One bitterly cold December day <br />I walked a barren landscape <br />Within and without <br />For no flowers bloomed, no birds sang <br />In the garden - or in my soul <br /> <br />In a wooded area I came upon <br />An elderly man and woman <br />Each standing, arm extended <br />With a palmful of peanuts <br />As they looked up expectantly at the trees <br /> <br />I watched as tiny birds <br />Flitted ever nearer <br />Black Capped Chickadees <br />Came to pluck tasty morsels <br />From their hands <br /> <br />Overcoming my shyness <br />I approached the couple <br />Might I feed the birds too? <br />The man smiled <br />And poured some food into my palm <br /> <br />I lifted my arm and waited <br />My elbow ached <br />My hand felt numb <br />Yet I was determined <br />To hold that little creature <br /> <br />Suddenly, a little pirate <br />With black bandana and beard <br />Perched on my hand <br />Come to claim his booty - <br />- And my heart <br /> <br />With his tiny clawed feet <br />Wrapped around my pinky <br />He appraised the contents in my hand <br />Snatched the plumpest nut <br />And flew off <br />Taking my burden with him <br /> <br />No plundering was involved <br />It was a fair exchange <br />A peanut <br />For the return of hope<br /><br />Jasper Pane<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/006-could-be-hope/
