July 15

My binoculars were a moot point 
hanging heavily around my neck this morning
as is usually true when I think to take them.
Every bird I might like to have seen hid itself away.
Heron, kingfisher, indigo bunting, bluebird, hawk.
Possibly the yellow breasted chat.  
No one came out to play.  
Hoodwinked yet again, I recalled 
the tiresome Buddhist warning
against holding expectations, 
this time in the guise
of a pair of binoculars.