I watch with growing dread

as that small centipede

makes his way along the porch rail.

Almost all the birdseed is gone now

and I fear he’ll soon be gone too.

 He approaches first one bird

and then another, but it seems

they don’t fancy centipedes today. 

A small flying insect joins the centipede

and the birds fly away.

The birds’ feeding ground is also

these young insects’ playing ground

where they roam safely –

at least today.

JDG