when my wife and I woke up this morning
they were there again
standing still against the bedroom wall
binoculars around their necks
canteens on their belts
socks pulled up way too high
Honey just ignore them I said
what do they want? she asked
they’re bird watchers I said
ornithologists and make-believe ornithologists
and then one of them gave the signal
and all the binoculars went up at once
I feel like we’re being toasted at a party my wife said
I feel like we’re in front of the firing squad I said
one old woman had a small telescope
her hand trembled slightly from its weight
our bedroom is so small
that we could see tiny versions of ourselves
reflected in the glass
it wasn’t until my wife said
I thought you said we should ignore them
that I realized I was squawking
I can’t I squawked
me neither she squawked back
and then we both raised up our arms
under the sheets
to scare them away
with our giant white wings
(с) Denver Butson "the bird watchers"