There’s a crazy little bird that dwells on the beach
Hunting and scouring for tiny shrimp in the sand
Observing the sandpiper, I watch quite intrigued
As it probes for its food, while a wave rushes in
Unaware, the bird continues, scarcely looking up
While I begin to worry for this unsuspecting bird
But right at the last moment, the sandpiper escapes
Why would it be so foolish as to play with its life?
Right as the wave leaves, the bird follows close behind
Nipping at the wave’s heels in search of its prey
I notice that this is an efficient little bird
Determined and persevering, unafraid to take a risk
Again the wave crests and begins the journey in
The sandpiper still digging just as busy as before
But this time the bird is at an unfair disadvantage
It is facing the wrong angle, unable to escape
“Run, sandpiper, run!” I scream in dismay
Yet the bird remains focused, collected, and calm
Within an inch of the bird the wave wildly crashes
While the sandpiper routinely lifts up and takes flight
The process repeats itself again and again
I grow more worried while the bird remains calm
I watch on filled with dread, and this time I see
The prey falling from the bird’s beak, alive and Scot free
Look what it missed! How can it survive?
But the bird pays me no attention and retrieves some more shrimp
If I were that sandpiper, I would have died long ago
Paralyzed in fear, watching out for the waves
I never would have ventured way out to the water
Out to my food and out to my survival
Now I will return home for I have the courage to do
What I was much too afraid to consider before
–Jason Westlake
October 16, 2006
