the feeding

the brown puff of a bird.
frenetic and bold
flying in so close
to where you sit
and eat
outside,
under an umbrella
on the bricked patio.
hardly a thimble
full
of feathers, ragged
yellow claws,
and black speck eyes,
its persistence
and courage wins.
you toss a crouton
into the air,
against the wind.
you feel strangely
good about this until
minutes go by
and you are surrounded
by its friends.