Splash

Outside the kitchen widow,
Under a juniper-bush's shade,
Is a stand where birds go
and bath themselves unafraid.

Little firetail finches,
with beaks and tails of postbox red,
splash in fluffy bunches
while a prairie warbler dips his head.

Then slowly lets the water
Trickle down his yellow neck.
The blue wren has a plain daughter
But his sons are getting their first fleck

Of color, and they are washing
As if they expect to come out sky blue.
There is a dreadful splashing,
A clumsy cowbird has jumped in too.

The little birds are furious,
And fly scolding to the trees nearby
The cowbird was only curious
And has gotten out to dry

Perched on a branch, two Nuthatches
Contemplate a dive. Maybe they wont, or will.
Looking down at reflections of leaves
in the water lying perfectly flat and still.

Poem by Geoeffry Dutton, but changed up a bit