so they got rid of the bird's nest

so they got rid of the bird's nest on our balcony
three or four or several pigeons were using the old couch
to live in

there were twigs and old national geographics
and cigarette butts and bird shit everywhere

there was also an old lemon tree from the previous tenant
it had never made it past a few days
and now the branches are all snapped off

we use it for an ashtray

it had been weeks
of stepping out for a smoke
and being startled by birds taking flight

and I was just getting used
to being startled

then they took the sofa away

and hosed down the floor
and cleaned out the lemon tree ashtray

so now there aren't

any birds
any more.