African Grey Audacity

Who authorized you to chatter so much

As if those leafless trees care?

Who gave you the ability to explain

What today’s wind gusts are up to

As they raise havoc with the kite flyer,

Hanging undies on the line,

And the careless meandering

Kicking up dust in the driveway?

What do you really know

About storm clouds,

Duck ponds overwhelmed with leaves,

The weather vane rusting atop the roof?

Did anyone give you the go-ahead

To make fun of the beer can in the ditch,

The modest scarecrow in the vegetable garden,

The tree house nestled in the oak tree?

Consider your audacity

And why you haven’t chosen

To flap your wings,

Leave your trusted perch

Next to the grand piano,

Leave words behind

And find tree limbs

To make home

And carry on like other birds…

Without all that verbose arrogance?