One Friday morning in July —
As always, it was hot and dry —
Hummer called a meeting of all the birds.

As they gathered around the seed feeder hub
he opened the session with these words:

“I don’t like this atmosphere — it’s like a pub.
Flapping wings and old seed shells
that make the surroundings look like hell.

“Pay attention to me. No more pub.
I’m forming an exclusive Avian Dining Club.
I’ll make this place great!
It will be called the Hummer Plate.

“As the only bird who can fly in reverse
And subsist on sweet nectar, shunning seeds,
I am the obvious choice to lead,
plus I’ve accrued a very fat purse.

“We’ll welcome all red and yellow birds
Grosbeaks will display their rosy breasts
While titmice wear bras, warblers sing on key,
And Woody does his pecking quietly.”

My bird friends all headed for their trees,
One chickadee choking on a seed,
And I ran in to the family on an emergency call.

Hummer is being so pushy and rude — he’s upsetting
The entire brood. We’re fed up with his ego — what can we do?

They actually chuckled as they replied:
One reality cannot be denied.
In a few weeks there will be no nectar at all
Trust us — he’ll be gone in the fall!