jays raze they live in the trees with arms long enough to reach over my backyard fence. there must be four of them. maybe more. they noticed i was putting out food for my new squirrel friends and thought they'd take a look at the menu. turns out they like what i serve enough to keep coming back. most of them wait until i've gone inside before they come down from their branches and boughs. the one i like best is the gutsiest of the group. he'll grab his grub right in front of me. yesterday i heard him before i could see him. i knew what he was saying, too. i'd put out a few walnut pieces. almonds are his favourite. i slid his order onto the concrete block he uses for a landing strip. jaws stood a few inches away, enjoying his own morning snack. he figured out what was coming and leapt onto the grass mid-chew. down came the bravest blue_jay i know. right on cue. he took what he'd come for and flew off, singing like i'd never heard him sing before. "he's fucking laughing," i said to jaws. then i did the same. a few minutes later, i caught him hanging off the side of the house while i ate breakfast. looking in on me. i met his eyes through the window that feeds my anthurium the light it needs and raised my hand before he left me for an open road paved with sky. 220917 what's it to you? who go blather from