BIRD POEM II by Tom Gannon c. 12/91 ========================= a junco must be a quiet one when the dark shell comes, must close eyes, wings against the cold then white light breeze--up to sing can sing andsingcansingand thank the thawed brink of a puddle for a quick drinkandsing down to hard snow ground for scattered seed singand seed singandseed and back to the hard snow pine to sing thanks sing as the white light breeze slightens, less busy--preen a wing--last burst of sing--until all soft, and still, and warm then a junco must be silent when the dark shell comes, then i must close my eyes; my wings; against the cold ======== ========