Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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A Visitor I Had Never Seen Before. It was 9 AM, and I was sitting in my office. My companion bird feeder, filled with seed Was, as always, hanging outside my window. After the winter's rush of various sparrows, The summer is slow, seldom with visitors. The main visitors now are my family of House Finches. At this moment one was making its occasional visit, When suddenly a tiny sleek silhouette with a long, sharp bill Added its presence to the feeder and to my view. I was puzzled for a moment-- A long-billed one does not consume seed. My mind raced through the species I thought it could be. This bird did not feed on my seed, as I had expected not, It merely explored, then vanished. Indeed! It was a curious wren (too dark to identify). Just casing the joint. I was honored It would take even a moment to give me some visual joy. Frank Maurer 4 August 2026 0930 Hours.