Selfish Birds

birds are selfish ,
they descend on to my lawn
when i offer them
crumbs of bread,
no sooner, they pick
the last speck,
they fly off
hovering above
lawns and homes
searching for crumbs.

men are fools
offering their palms
to the beaks of
hungry birds

the scratch on the soul,
the indelible mark,
the timeless burden,
the gnash in the heart

the empty lawn,
the green desert
and the sand of grass,
let them not descend
on to my lawn
i too have spent
the last of crumbs.