even if they're eating seeds i put out
Mary Winters
I am a mild-mannered, slow-
moving person and I have
an amazing rapport with animals.
Dogs, hamsters, even fish.
(Not horses because I don't think
they're particularly bright;
you're standing beside them
and they lose their focus
for a moment, a thousand
pounds lands on you.)
Last summer our neighbor's cat
came to our yard when
they were doing errands.
I told Ralph if he was lonesome
he could stay with us;
why didn' he lie down
on the drivewaywhere it was warm
and take a nap. Which he did,
you should have seen
the look on my husband's face.
But I have scared millions
of birds into flight.
Crows, blue jays, cowbirds
- something about my presence.
Off they go.
Just my face at the window.
