TURKEYS

by Matt Witt

Photo by Matt Witt

I’ve been observing wild turkeys for a long time.

 

At mating season, the males try to attract a willing female.

I’ve never seen one try to rape a hen.

 

They have their conflicts 

but I’ve never seen a murder among them. 

 

Some are dark and some are white

but they are all part of the flock.

 

When a storm comes they seek shelter under a big tree

And if another turkey shows up there is always room for one more.

 

I’ve never seen one hoard acorns or seeds or grubs 

while other turkeys have none.

 

I’ve been observing wild turkeys for a long time.

I wonder if they have been observing us?

 

 

Matt Witt is a writer and photographer in Oregon. His work may be seen at MattWittPhotography.com. His latest book is Monumental Beauty: Wonders Worth Protecting in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.

UKRAINE (CONTINUED)

by David Radavich

Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 601 of the invasion: Russia testing defences around Kupiansk-Lyman as its Avdiivka offensive wanes, says Ukraine; Moscow admits reliance on China for drones —The Guardian, October 17, 2023

You used to be
on our front pages.

 

Now there are
other wars,
other headlines.

 

Almost a footnote
of human suffering.

 

The bombed-out
churches and schools,
houses and hospitals,
are still rubble,

 

the dead are
still barely buried.

 

We can only stand
so much news:
we have our own issues.

 

Forgive us our 
short attention span,
our time-worn
generosity.

 

We meant well
once.

David Radavich has published a variety of poetry, drama, and essays.  His latest book is Unter der Sonne / Under the Sun: German and English Poems (Deutscher Lyrik Verlag, 2021).