Birds singing in trees
seem happy and serene.
But look how they scatter
when you approach them
when they’re on the ground.

Despite the fact they are
always singing like carefree
birds, at any moment a hawk
could swoop down and kill
one or more of them.

It’s almost like their singing
is a charade to mask the
fear they have inside.

Perhaps it’s a defense
mechanism to attempt to
ease their constant fears
and their necessary paranoia.

Bob Boyd