two california quail lift heavily to the second story

of plant- and bird-feeder, settling broad girth amid the seed

spilling hulls and seed on nasturtiums, stand and porch floor below

i’ve never heard a california quail ‘hurrah’

but the enthusiastic waggle of question marks above their foreheads

must have conveyed other mothers’ and chubby half-dozen offspring’

gratitude for the quailfall