It’s a quiet activity.
Bird watching. You must
be still. And patient, and
not drift off into the news,
or scroll to find out what the latest
government spending cuts
are or how they might affect children’s
lunch programs, or pregnant women
needing supplemental nutrition,
or millions of people who might not
get their medication, or students who will no
longer be able to go to college, or people
who may not be able to pay their rent.

Not to mention any refugees
who may have to turn on their heels
and leave the country.

No, turn back to the bare branch.
The one where the blue necked tanager
sits and preens. Did you know they mate
for life? And they care for other bird’s babies
in their flock. And they live harmoniously
with other species.

I see it now.
They’re sharing the branch
with the blue gray tanager and the slate
throated redstart. That branch juts out
over an avocado tree filled with baseball sized
avocados. Not one of the birds tells
the others to leave, nor to stop
their singing.

Why turn back to the news
to discover how freedom of speech
is eroding as fast as the climate
is changing and that if you don’t
sing the same song as the 34-count-
felon-president, you’re out.
Clean out your desk and pack your bags.

A sole blue gray tanager perches
on the bare twig now. Chachalacas
chortle below, roosters
crow in the distance.

This is the news today.

No need to scroll. But you might
want to check the 2600 federal
programs about to be “temporarily”
paused. Or perhaps you might
want to pack your own bags.

Diane Sherman
January 29, 2025, Colombia