They Are Like You, Just Not Like Us

Soon after sunrise,
Pygmy nuthatches
Swarm ponderosas
In chattering mobs.
They’ll check out your car

If you parked it near
A popular pine.
The human ear wants
To hear us in them,
Group conversation,

Discussing the day,
The tree, bugs, bark,
Dead bugs on the car,
The latest gossip
Among nuthatches.

This is a mistake,
You remind yourself
By means of ourselves.
Nuthatches don’t keep
Languages as slaves.

They communicate,
Sure, but in the way,
Old folks and children
Hum tuneless chunter
When they’re together.