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red breasted nuthatch

 

the red breasted nuthatch

keeps a faithful watch

from a trembling branch

of the old aspen

in whose trunk there is a hole

a knot pecked out

by a hairy woodpecker

quite some time ago

 

over the years

besides the woodpeckers

tree swallows and nuthatches

have also lived there

but they were always

white breasted or pygmy

those nuthatches

until now

 

today i noticed a difference

that is a red breasted nuthatch

its soft feathers ruffling

holding tight

to the branch in the wind

popping in and out

of the that little hole

in the old aspen

 

mmm, hmmm

creaks mama aspen

look up and open your eyes

to the world outside of you

the one you can touch

watch close enough

and you'll see something new

every day

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