My Birds!

I watch the size, markings, eyes,
I listen for their calls.
Whistles, chirps, trills, and warbles,
an alert expression says it all.
Fly from the feeder!
Or chase that raiding hawk
away from nested baby birds!
Flitting, fluttering, musical kites,
fly across an open field
between the house and lake.
Noisy devils at 6:30 a.m.,
so early awake!
Little birds peck at knots
in the maple tree,
knots darkened by rain and rot.
Woodpeckers have pierced a tribal scroll
around the pear tree’s trunk.
They peck and peck ,
at insects a la carte.
Bluebirds watch the ground below feeders,
searching for ants and other bugs.
Bobbing flight across the meadow,
they swoop to snare their prize,
guided by a dab of brain so agile
and ingrained with powers
greater than their size.
The winds of storms blow hard
and strong around the corner my house,
I wonder where the birds go then…..
when thunder rumbles
and lightening streaks the sky!
Leaves and branches stripped from trees,
and silence falls on the meadow dim…..
At 6:30 in the morning
the birds are at it once again!
Blessed with strength, and resilience
Beyond proportion to their size,
birds are miracles
to these eyes!