The woodpecker pecks
at the tree
peck, peck, peck
with a calming sound
as I walk by.

I wonder what it’s looking for
(bugs? ants?),
so diligently pecking at.

The bird is yellow,
a bit smaller than a hawk. He seems to look
at me, for a second.

Then he flexes his wings
and leaps off a branch,
gliding through the air
like a paper airplane,

as if to say,

Farewell.