“Fine Feathered Feast”

 

The idea came about,

 from a simple bird feeder,

 in a clearing among,

 birch trees, hardwood and cedar

 

The birds that arrived,

 for a lunch that was free,

 started spreading the word,

 from tree to tree

 

I collected day old bread,

 from the bakers I’d met,

 the birds passed the plan,

 and the gathering was set

 

First off came the finches,

 then came the sparrows,

 while I unloaded bread,

 by the box, bag and barrel

 

Then the owls flew in,

 with wisdom and luck,

 and the geese arrived soon,

 in a pick-up truck

 

The loons all came in,

 by limousine,

 then the pelicans paraded,

 to add to the scene

 

Ducks came by boat,

 crows by canoe,

 and parrots flew in,

 from a far away zoo

 

Then robins rolled in,

 by railroad cars,

 and seagulls sailed in,

 from both near and far

 

Ostrich showed up next,

 from sandy hills,

 then pigeons came by.

 from window sills

 

Eagles rolled in,

 as if by escalators,

 sand pipers rode in,

 on alligators

 

Then doves winged their way,

 from far desert lands,

 and hummingbirds buzzed in,

 as if powered by fans

 

We ate day old doughnuts,

 rice, oats, and bread,

 then the crows gathered straw,

 for everyone’s bed

 

The gathering went on,

 for three days and a week,

 feather to feather,

 and beak to beak

 

You should have seen it,

 when they all took to wing,

 and you wouldn’t believe,

 the songs they did sing

 

Next year they’ll be back,

 and we hope you attend,

 the second annual party,

 of our fine feathered friends . . .

 

 

Virginia City, Nev.

© 11/24/03