Cynical spring

by Claudia Rey

A black bird parades in my garden
wings partly spread, tail in a fan,
yellow beak half open,
while his future partner
combs her feathers under a bush
and pretends not to see him.
At last he takes wing
and she follows suit.
So he did win her over, I smile.
Soon there’ll be a new nest.
Don’t think so, quips my daughter.
I’d say she simply had enough
and chased him off.