nature at lunchtime

 past the magnolias a flash of grey hawk
today the cardinal gazes through glass
and the house sparrow will not cease to talk

the cat is out there on its daily walk
the birds are silent as it stalks to pass
past the magnolias a flash of grey hawk

there is no reason any here would squawk
we have not yet reached an open impasse
and the house sparrow will not cease to talk

the hunter's quiet and he won't let you balk
your options aren't as simple nor as crass
past the magnolias a flash of grey hawk

the stranger waits and cannot help but gawk
there is nothing here that you could amass
and the house sparrow will not cease to talk

you write the message down in plain old chalk
and watch the squirrels running on the grass
past the magnolias a flash of grey hawk
and the house sparrow will not cease to talk

accounting for tastes

 you think this is the sort of thing that fails
but no one tells you just what you will need
there is a moment when you jump the rails

the ball that bounces still may strike the bails
we watch and wait to see the standard deed
you think this is the sort of thing that fails

each of us adds a small weight to the scales
and does not want to show much haste or greed
there is a moment when you jump the rails

only the youthful sweat the hard details
the rest of us know just how matters speed
you think this is the sort of thing that fails

nothing's been hidden behind screens or veils
we really want this venture to succeed
there is a moment when you jump the rails

this is not left to the old slugs and snails
no one is waiting here to see you bleed
you think this is the sort of thing that fails
there is a moment when you jump the rails