the hummingbird culture

Pete says hummingbirds 
       don't have the energy to 
              migrate, they work their 
way  into the feathers of 
                   a goose, nuzzle up to all 
                         that fluff and down and
                   hitch a ride

                         and I begin to understand
                                why geese yawp,
                                      winged opportunists 
                                being quite smart
                   not showing their snouts 
                   until the mother-ship's 
                   in paradise, 
                         letting loose into the 
                   airy tributaries 
                                of not-too-hi 
                         not-too-lo
my guess by then
a goose is spent

the last victory formation disappeared
when the crows came yesterday, except of course 
for  that almost transparent 
                   buzzing ball 
       knocking 	
       on my window 

wondering 
where the goose has gone

© Bernard Alain