i bet birds never get colds
winging from tree to tree
and singing
i think just for me

the worst you have to worry about
is a hungry cat
or
diving too low into the path
of an oncoming car

but otherwise
you chirp (or caw or shriek) away
happy as can be
no microscopic parasites to give you
a sore throat.

i wonder,
my wingèd friends,
is that something you can teach to me?