Scrutiny

Is this the way a bird decides?
A tilt of the head to one side.
A tilt of the head the other.
Again and again, a few times,

And then it hops down, or it flies.
You have no ideas in your head
Whether to stay or go away.
You’re trying to feel it. You eye

One perch. Then you eye the other.
Maybe you do it for the view,
All that tilting for perspective.
Or maybe birds are always torn.

Maybe this is the life birds get.
Not wise, no way to toss a coin,
No advice—just everything seen
Side-eye until the wings decide.