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The Bird Seed Lady

She pushes a shopping cart, loaded with seed, On paths by the river and park And tosses out handfuls, believing she’ll feed Every pigeon and sparrow and lark. The pigeons swoop down, crowding railing and bench As they jostle to get their fair share And if anyone wants to sit down, well, the stench Of the droppings says they shouldn’t dare. Yet the lady with bird seed, she cares not a whit For the humans, but does she know that All the seed she distributes gives squirrels a hit In addition to each local rat? The creatures of cities don’t need to be fed; They’re industrious, savvy and slick. So I look at the seeds that this lady has spread And I wonder just what makes her tick.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2021




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Date: 4/7/2021 8:18:00 AM
Some of us toss crumbs to the pigeons, but they probably can find enough to eat without our help. I guess this lady loves birds, and she seems quite eccentric. We learn to live with all types of people. Nice poem, Ilene. I could visualize everything through your words.
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Date: 4/6/2021 8:42:00 PM
Interesting, Ilene. I would say she is good-hearted, but maybe misdirected. It may be all she knows. Your last stanza sure educated me on this subject.
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Date: 4/6/2021 7:56:00 PM
The bird-seed lady must be a candidate for 'Sainthood' in her own twisted universe, I'm afraid... There are a few candidates in Chicago as well... Pity, gw
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Date: 4/6/2021 12:11:00 PM
WELL done! What Judy Ball and others do not appreciate is how sickly and over-populated cities are with pigeons who do not need to forage for food, so spend their day multiplying and replenishing the earth with sickly disease-prone squab because their parents did not exercise nor eat a balanced diet. Even worse for bird lovers, is that these sickly pigeons drive out or infect songbirds and other wildlife! Aloha! Rico
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Date: 4/6/2021 12:05:00 PM
Lovely poem! xomo
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Date: 4/6/2021 11:38:00 AM
what vivid imagery Ilene , I am sure the birds get very well fed by mother nature and scavenging - there are people here who feed the seagulls then wonder why they swoop on people having picnics or ice cream:-( hugs Jan xx
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Date: 4/6/2021 10:25:00 AM
Ive got this image of that bird lady in home alone. If you're planning to sit on the park bench, bring a plastic bag lol. Tom
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Date: 4/6/2021 10:06:00 AM
You would be surprised how little there is for the animals to find to eat because people don't leave that much and the natural food that feeds these animals give way to the ornamental plants we like to plant. We are taking more and more away from nature but a planet that can't support the animals can't support the people either. God Bless, JB
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