The foundation was already poured
beneath the ancient ponderosa
when we spotted the nuthatches
nesting in a dead stump thirty feet up.

We waited all spring
for their frenzy to fall off
and the eggs to hatch,
but two squirrels found them first
and left nothing for summer.

This year the nuthatches are back
nesting in the same dead place
as if nothing ever happened,
the squirrels simply part
of their fury of sticks.