Feathered chaos

A handful of popcorn throws the flock to frenzy,

wings thrash in uncoordinated flight.

Feathers scatter—torn paper on cracked bricks,

white flakes against sun-bleached gray.

They clatter, stumble, a clumsy storm,

pecking at crumbs like desperate gossip.

One breaks free, startled and awkward,

a mess of feathers, chaos dressed in gray.

I watch, unsettled, as order unravels,

a noisy swarm with no grace,

a wild scratch on the city’s tired face,

breaking the stillness with a ragged sigh.