four black crows stand glossy in the sunlit snow
menacing from under the apple trees
they watch enviously as brighter birds
feed on the saved sunflower seeds in the feeder outside my window
they content themselves with observance
occasionally pecking at one another as if annoyed
that they are outsiders, uninvited and apart
starlings, jays, and many sparrows dine together
but the crows just watch in enviable silence from the distance
keeping their distance, perhaps they are watching me
perhaps they are there to give warning
or maybe they just like apple seeds
