The bird that mocks is widowed–
some organic extract weakened her system,
or perhaps all her eggs were laid out
like a pauper counting pennies
without hope even for a side of fries,
or maybe she just couldn’t stomach
last year’s cuckolding mate courting
blindly with other’s songs.

Darwin doubted
a standard of truth
by noting the differences.
In my yard all I hear is
beautiful music.

(first draft)