I woke to the thought,

ringing in my ears,

that things seemed so

ordinary but they aren’t.

 

In a few days,

unlike the Canada Geese,

I shall fly south to a place

of sun, happy smiles and

bright colours.

 

Why don’t the geese fly south?

Perhaps it is because

people feed them.

I wonder if this is kind?

 

Now instead of enjoying

a change of scene.

They stand in a cold park

expecting hand outs!

 

They are beautiful birds

but like  so many creatures,

exposed to mankind,

have lost the will to do

what is ancient and natural.

 

I think that there are

so many of them,

that perhaps we should

feed hungry people with them.

 

Perhaps a pay back

for what it costs the city

to clean up their mess.

A welcome feast for

the homeless and hungry.

 

Or we could stop feeding them;

as we have with the bears

and then they would fly south

to a place of sun, happy smiles and

bright colours.

 

Joy to the world !

David Garlick, Victoria, December, 2000