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Dawn’s Winter Palace got going in late autumn
she hung two feeders outside the kitchen
she said
that might be good for this year let’s see what we get
we got snow
Lewis shoveled
it snowed he shoveled
Dawn sprinkled seeds on the snow
jonquils and chickadees were regulars
squirrels ate seeds on the snow terrace
it snowed again and the terrace grew a foot
the squirrels shoved seeds into their mouths then
tunneled to the previous landing and gobbled more
the porch floor as dry as the wind-swept Steppes
birds frolicked in a gyre
squirrels walked up to the feeder 7 feet high
as frequently happens in a winter of largesse
it started fun but devolved into excess
seeds piled on the floor
squirrels wanted more
jays squawked at squirrels
chickadees waited patiently
the hubbub swirled and fed long into March
the next year Dawn said
let it rest.