messy birds

messy birds, flinging birdseed

over the deck floor from the translucent

suction-cupped feeder on my window

i sweep and try to gather up the bits

between the metal ridges, sighing,

but not regretting the glorious spread

of their wings as they land

on the narrow ledge to dip and pick

my privilege to watch them ungrateful

but happy to feed amid all our man-

made changes to their natural world

Third bobcat

Young bobcat, perhaps female,

paler with less prominent florets,

sauntered across my back yard

yesterday – my third, my privilege

Over the years, i’d watched two others,

probably male, grow to be too large

and too muscular to be house cats

each year their markings darker

and more distinct and handsome

I am sorry to be moving away, giving

up the honor of observing

this one over time