Red-headed woodpeckers take turns
at a Rainbird sprinkler dripping, sip
a drop at a time clinging to galvanized
pipe for hours in the summer, choose
a slow leak over a full water trough.
To survive, we adapt to the leftover
comforts of others, the leaks and
imperfections of progress, ignore
the loud and idle chatter striding by,
and focus on living with eyes open.
Almost tame, the Rock Wren cleans
the window screen for bugs. Roadrunners
stride tomato vines for worms. Coveys
of Quail move-in, followed by gray
hawks—all aware of the real news.
drycrikjournal 