Read Poem: I WANT TO LEARN BIRDS, by Leslie Dianne

I want to
learn birds:
the mynah and the rest of the passerines
the hummingbirds with their
love serenades and midair dance
the eternally annoying
beautiful woodpecker
bringing the dawn and
screaming incessantly
at the unyielding tree
the dayshy owl
blinking in night wonder
at the moon lit world
the eagles eyeballing the
earth for the sick and the wounded
alpha predators balancing
the air as they dive and pierce
the tender flesh of their prey
I want to learn the
black cockatoo
who carries the mark
of the sun on his tail and the
black billed magpies
who trick other birds
by stealing their songs
I want to learn birds
and see the earth from up high
toes grasping a strong branch
pushed from the nest
falling in terror then
learning to fly
the wind my best friend
wings tickling stars