I Want Only What I Need Valentine (for J.)

Birds grow like flowers here
and then are seen no more
right now it’s a cloud of towhees
who sweep through the mind of air

searching for this morning

landing in my yard until
they catch me sitting there
in the cornered shade
and pause and stare at me
and I can see they’re on the verge
of recognizing me but instinct
barges in and off they fly
with often a trill trailing
a series of musical chips
that take me into their sky