birdwatching

write every day just
to stay familiar with words
and learn their ways
                                    like
the pianist who plays each note
a thousand times until
he knows its place by touch.

or is it more like birdwatching?

at the park I saw a man
who fed the birds: he filled his hands
with seed and held them out.
he didn't move. he whistled
and they landed in his hands.
he'd been coming every day for weeks (maybe months)
just to sit
            to watch them
                        wait for them
so they knew him.

people are like birds sometimes.

wouldn't it be nice if
            words came for the asking
faith was instantaneous
            people didn't need to trust?

            but perhaps
it's better this way.