One late October golden day,
red, bronze, yellow leaves
shift beneath my feet,
I walk the fense to clean
bird houses hooked to posts, tree limbs,
take out old nests, rid mites, mud, pests.

I lowered the bottom of a blue birds house.
On the twigs stood one shocked mouse,
head-sized ears, alert, brown eyes wide in
fright.

Then, calm as a soft breeze,
he asked,”Would you, please?”
and I, Bobbie Burns ignoring, said
“Of course, dear supplicant!
All Nature needs and you will
stay my occupant!”

And closed the house.