Humming Birds
With the flower bed as a dance floor,
a humming bird at each end advances,
bowing before the stalks of phlox
as if asking each one to dance.
The birds stick piercing beaks
deep into the petals until
they look like they are modeling
bonnets or Easter hats.
When the birds meet near the middle,
the ruby throat yields.
The female dances past--
for the moment he’s a gentleman.
They each carry on, searching
for what the other may have missed,
counting the meeting insignificant--
dancing to different drummers.
With the flower bed as a dance floor,
a humming bird at each end advances,
bowing before the stalks of phlox
as if asking each one to dance.
The birds stick piercing beaks
deep into the petals until
they look like they are modeling
bonnets or Easter hats.
When the birds meet near the middle,
the ruby throat yields.
The female dances past--
for the moment he’s a gentleman.
They each carry on, searching
for what the other may have missed,
counting the meeting insignificant--
dancing to different drummers.