Telephone poles

Telephone poles recede
into dwindling distance.
From wooden shoulders swing
slack cables which support
the black birds. In even
single-file rows like kids
in cafeteria
lines. And these waiters shift,
fidget, bob for balance,
their black heads undulate.
Walkers watch the tightrope,
count the birds in their lines.
But black eyes scrutinize
passers-by, check movements
for hostile hints in arms
and hands and walking legs.