how to fool a finch

sez here
in small
print that
the canary
sings to
attract
a mate

if you put
a mirror
in his cage
he sees
himself
& thinking
he's found
his own
true love
he ceases
singing

sure enough
hanging a mirror
in ananda's
cage this week
ended his song
he spent
all day
looking at
his reflection
"i see
my mate
i cease
my song
i've found
true love"

but humans
did not love
the birdsong
of silence
& removed
the mirror
this morning

"my true love
has flown
the coop
& i must
go on singing"

& so he does
& i sez
"happy april
fool's day,
ananda"

-- rich seeley