Easing down a wooded valley
on a bit of sylvan salley
late April or early May
an altogether pleasant day.

The forest in a deep new green
providing a cool leafy screen
from the late afternoon heat;
honeysuckle blossoms smelling sweet.

As my legs and feet begin to tire
I decide to sit and just admire.
Well now, there's a perfect stump
upon which to perch my rump.

I sit down and take a rest
in midst of springtime woodland quest
when a mocking bird alights near
and it shows no sign of fear.

Just for fun I address this bird
as if it understands each word.
To my surprise it stays right there
listening with utmost care.

Who might be the man to lead
us from this plight caused by such greed,
tell me who might heed this call.
I guessed bird's silence said it all.

Then I inquired about beliefs,
why do they lead to such griefs?
Would lack of religion make him sad ?
He looked at me as if I'm mad.

I just kept going on and on
about things present as well as gone.
What solutions do his kind prefer?
Each time his answer he'd defer.

When will come the end of war
and all the reasons they're fought for?
When will mankind become clever ?
His one response was simply " Never ".

Then he squawked and took to wing
without adding anything
leaving me with open mouth
in midst of woods deep in the south.

I shook myself as from a trance
then checked the stump for fire ants.
Was this conversation merely dreamed ?
That surely wasn't how it seemed.

Now I often sit and wonder
sometimes am even led to ponder
when will this bird talk like before ?
I know the answer : Nevermore .