Photography © Edward S. Gault

 

Birdseed AA

Acrobatic attitude
            by his tail hangs upside down –
daringly dangles from an oak tree
            precariously above the ground.

Already arrested,
            Bird feeder pole slick and oiled,
straight ascent thwarted, (tricky humans)
            his first attempt was foiled!

Attempted adjustment,
            up a tree, feeder in sight below!
Studies a new trajectory,
            balances on shaky branch, although

Altitudinal ability
            is sharp, he seems not destined to reach…
instead of feasting on succulent seeds,
            from his mouth, he emits a piercing screech!

Anorectic arm
            gives way- complaining, he tumbles below
awaiting, a yapping white canine whose
            reactions are thankfully slow!

Arriba! Abscond
            with a single seed, gray blur flees this yard,
tomorrow acorns, safety in the woods,
            without a canine standing guard!

 

Julie A. Dickson advocates for captive circus and zoo elephants, has two rescued feral cats and crochets cat mats for shelter cats. She is addicted to audio books, Netflix and writing YA fiction, flash fiction and especially poetry. From scribbled notes on envelopes, to iPhone notepad to the keyboard frenzies at 4:00 am, she is always writing about bullying, memories, humor, animals and nature.

Edward S. Gault is a poet and fine art photographer. He lives at Mosaic Commons, a co-housing community in Berlin, Massachusetts.