scrubs not exactly bullies

flaunting dusky blue, white bib

and greater size western scrub jays

land on the curved metal support

for the bird feeder platform

and chickadees, wrens, even thrushes

flit away from their midday snacking

to allow the intruder full access

to the tiny yellow, red and green beads

in the metal bowl

it isn’t exactly bullying, just taking

what is offered by smaller

less assertive neighbors

tiny plea

tiny white butterfly flittered

near like an asterisk calling

attention to itself. ‘Here I am,”

it seemed to whisper, ‘perishing

in this early summer sun. I don’t

have dark blues or blacks

or large, wide-spread wings

that would help me cool myself.

Your global warming is killing me

and so many others. Please, please

tell your others to change

how you use our earth and air.’