We scatter the bird seed

which is guaranteed

not to germinate,

and realize once more we've fallen prey

to misleading advertising:

The seeds immediately sprout

acres of jays

that, in some cannibalistic

parent and child reunion,

turn on the remaining seeds

and devour them before more jays can appear.

All this appetite at least provides a check

on the suddenly exploding bird population.

Now I'm scattering the remaining seeds

into the air by the handful,

watching the jays

appear for a moment in midair,

snatch up the airborne seeds

before they themselves

are swallowed by the sky.