In Spring

1 Dead birds fill the yard.
2 I’ve buried two thus far.
3
4 Brought up by the dog,
5 stick remembers one,
6 and another’s marked
7 at the head with a stone.
8
9 Birds fall from the trees.
10 By my count thus far three.
11
12 Retrieved and resting,
13 leaf-wrapped and lain in a hole dug
14 with my hands at the side of the house,
15 this one’s mangled half.
16
17 Only the dog knows how many hatchlings 
18 fallen thus far into spring.

3.20.9