I sing the praises
 
of autumn birds that visit
 
my seedy garden.

 
 
 

birds in my plum tree
 
snatching up hapless insects
 
for their midday snack

 
 
 

Ha, marauding birds!
 
I’ve picked all the apricots—
 
nothing’s left for you.

 
 
 

On my morning walk
 
I watch a schoolboy watching
 
the man who feeds birds.

 
 
 

Birds, bees, and blossoms—
 
everything I need is here
 
in my own backyard.

 
 
 

Celebrating spring,
 
we fling open our windows
 
to hear the birds sing.

Scarecrow

 
 
 

Bedraggled scarecrow,
 
how many more hungry birds
 
can you keep at bay?

Birds

 
 
 

homeless man at dawn
 
thieving little birds barge in
 
stealing every crumb

Windows

 
 
 

at 87
 
too many windows to wash—
 
she lets the birds in