He was only a bird
Or maybe it was a she
But whichever it was
It was a sad sight to see.

It was one of the jays
That I had fussed so much about.
He was dead
Of that there was no doubt.

It made me rather sad
To see him laying there.
Flat on his back
Instead of in the air.

There were two, you know
That regularly came to eat.
I put food out for them
And others who liked a treat.

They made an awful noise
To scare the sparrows away.
They would eat their fill
Then quickly fly away.

They were a momma and a papa
Of that I was very sure
For I used to see the babies
From my front door.

I thought they had flown away
Because I no longer fed.
But they both hung around.
Now one of them is dead.

It was only a bird
That I put in a garbage can.
But once it was a bit of life
That gave joy to this old man.

jhs