Nest

Twigs interwoven with downy feathers

Cradled in between swaying limb support

Hidden dwelling leaves around a bird’s nest

Cracks aloud in mother’s warm incubation.

Chirping open mouths of instant hungry chicks

Starts parental shifts of rotating sustenance.

The fuzzy downy molts into young feathers

That soon must leave the nest’s cozy security.

That on edge, they peer down far, far below,

Parents anxious watch for vicious predators.

And in one slip, they tumble down so fast

That instinct starts flapping before landing.

Dazed they stand there grounded being confused,

As parents dive down to make them take flight.

They follow for awhile getting life’s quick lessons

Then take off on their own, to build their nest-egg.

David Lester Young 10/19/10