bird feeder

you hung a contraption
outside so you'd see
them flutter and gobble
and flutter away

you sit inside watching them
as if each one were marilyn monroe
victims of their reputations
encased in wings that hurt to use

landing on your balcony
on their way to somewhere else
where all the food is free
and no one wants a thing

where no one carries guns
or photographs perfection
and birds are allowed to be birds
without ever having to die

they visit your bird feeder now
and pretend they don't know that you're there
spying on them from your cushy chair
mixing good seed with middling

helping them presume every bite is the best
on the house with no strings attached
like it's nice to believe of the world all around
as you fly through the air as you fall