Elise Skidmore

When they say 
something is for the birds
it's meant to be worthless,
and not taken seriously.
I've heard it stems from horse droppings
from which some birds extract seeds;
much like crows picking at trash, I suppose, 
but that doesn't seem worthless to me. 
The birds certainly gain something;
if they didn't, they'd stop doing it.

Human beings do a lot of things
that might be considered for the birds,
mundane or frivolous,
yet somehow productive,
like eagles soaring to great heights
just because they can.
Robins in springtime bring hope;
hummingbirds sharing flowers with the bees
make the earth a better place;
and legions of bird species with their 
beautiful colors and variety 
bring joy to all who see them.

And we cannot speak of birds
without mention of their greatest gift—
the freedom of flight,
which has spurred mankind 
to reach for the limitless skies.

I think being for the birds
is a thing of great value, indeed.

~Elise Skidmore ©2022