rudeness unacknowledged

 rather than acknowledge

wrought iron bird politely

faces away as california quail

crowd the feeder tray, wiping back

with their feed as they step forward

to advance on the birdseed

creating piles of husk and debris

on the porch below and behind them

needle pliers

fir and pine, evergreen and ever gossips

wiggle and bend together in their stands

needles clack and whisper as they knit

tales of the adventures of their seedlings

whose cones were carried afar

by birds and friendly winds

and horror stories

of the foolishness of man