two chickadees burn
a path through air
from the feeder suspended
on its frozen pole, cloaked
in shade, to bare twigs
of dogwood, doused
with sun. back and forth.
taking turns. or is there
just one bird, tethered
to hunger? plunging
each time into darkness
then winging back
to light where it cracks
and chews and prepares
for the next descent.