THE DAWN CHORUS

At day break
as the dawn chorus begins
with the repetitive chirping
of birds

we rise
as for us that sound
marks the beginning of a new day

but really
for the birds
it’s a battle call
a protective stance
that balanced on these branches
is a family
a nest
a life
that will not be tampered with

See there are wars we’ve yet to learn
the language of

I keep this in mind

at day break
as the dawn chorus begins
with the repetitive bawking
of teenagers

perhaps this too is a battle call
a declaration of beaks
to mask the silence of flapless wings
or a seemingly windless air

They try to delicately balance
their pride for their branches
with their sometimes empty nests
all while never coming across
as peck-bait

Yes it sounds like noise sometimes
a whole bunch of squawking

but

there are wars we’ve yet to learn
the language of

a battle that sounds like babble