Sitting at the table, looking out the window

I see my Mother's old bird-bath

She use to have in her back yard

In my front yard, it stands beside the path.

In mother's backyard this birdbath stood

Among the trees and flowers she grew

Cardinals, Bluebirds, Jays and "Mockers"

All kind of birds the birdbath drew.

How old is this birdbath?  I do not know

was handed down for me to keep

I placed it in the yard where I could see

Our Bluebirds come to play in water deep.

This birdbath has some odd vi-si-tors

They come and soil the fresh clean water

A dozen birds at a time:  They all jump in

To splatter the water: to them I do not cater.

These are some kind of old blackbirds

To keep a bathing date they come

Would you believe if I told you?

They fight over bathing, ain't that dumb?

You would think that baths each day

A bunch of clean birds, they would be

Not so; the water is so soiled and splattered

I dump, I rinse, fresh water is their plea.

I like to see our Bluebirds come

Every afternoon: just about five

They all gather for a bathing party

A great time they'll have, when all arrive.

Bluebirds gracefully play in the water

Not at all like those "dirty birds" might

To see a sight that is so pretty

Sunshine makes their blue so bright.

So stands this bird-bath in my yard

I hope for many years, yet to come

For all our feathered friends aloft

To refresh and call this place their home.

Vina Carathers

August 14, 2000

September 27, 2000

**  I mean like 12 at a time taking a bath at the same time!

Others standing around on the edge of the bowl and on the ground.