It’s Hard to Watch the Birds – poem by Jonathan Tysick
It’s Hard to Watch the Birds
By: Jonathan Tysick
It’s hard to watch the birds with the people all around
Chronically poor, colourfully rich, comfortably middle class
Scraping, scrounging, trusting in this bloated, aching town
Suits strut under skyscrapers casting shadows on the ground
Rags shrink on sidewalks as the crowds hustle past
It’s hard to watch the birds with the people all around
Rent, inflation, bills on their face creates a frown
They weep, they laugh, they curse, they dance,
they frolic in the grass
Scraping, scrounging, trusting in this bloated, aching town
“When I was your age we bought a house that we found
You couldn’t do that these days, it’s quite the contrast”
It’s hard to watch the birds with the people all around
“No vacancy” signs on shelters but tents and tarps abound
Choose one of the following: food, rent or gas
Scraping, scrounging, trusting in this bloated, aching town
“A change is proposed for this site”: another condo compound
“A change is proclaimed for this world”: the first shall be last!
It’s hard to watch the birds with the people all around
Scraping, scrounging, trusting in this bloated, aching, town
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