Mary Zartman

Complete & Utter

Small chirpy birds discuss the weather

And whether or not it will rain all day

Or break apart expected depressions

With lapses of sunshine, warmth,

Peace, even; though birds sing

Whether they are up or down

And as long as they can

Feel their throats

Local crows disrupt the wandering

Discussion with crass rebuttals

That winter always comes, that men take down trees

And won’t plant new ones

As if they can get along without

The bugs, the bird’s nests, the mess

Of leaves and twigs and crow

As if interrupting, busyness, chattering

Talking, talking, talking, talking

Aren’t what builds the real world