1 Poem by James Benger

Birdwatching

The bluejay hops from
barren branch to spindly twig,
twisting his head in improbable directions,
searching for that miniscule sustenance
that might be found amongst
the desolate, antiseptic environs
of Kansas in January.

Nestled in our dinosaur-powered warmth,
the boy and I trade binoculars,
searching for that perfect angle,
where the light is just so,
and we may see the familiar animal
for the first time again.

As though the bird knows it’s being watched,
it cranes that pointy beak,
carving a perfect line from its face
to our vantage a couple feet north of the backdoor.

My son tells me the bird’s female,
and I ask how he knows,
knowing the little that I do,
this is one of the few birds where
color tells nothing of gender.
The boy informs me it’s all in the eyebrows,
reminding me not to question him;
he’s an expert.

I hug him and tell him okay
as the bird moves on to
some other tree that might seem more promising.


Bionote

James Benger is the author of several books of poetry and prose. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Writers Place, and on the Riverfront Readings Committee, and is the founder of the 365 Poems in 365 Days online workshop. He lives in Kansas City with his wife and children.