Writers’ Weir: Chickadee Politics

Writers’ Weir: Chickadee Politics

Suspended by rope from the eaves the feeder

hangs between me and the morning sun.

Shadows dance across my newspaper

as three chickadees, dart between a hemlock

and the waiting bounty of sunflower seeds.

How different from the junco which

will hunker down in the seeds and fly

at others with beak open and wings aflutter.

The chickadees are different. One flies in, selects

a seed and takes it away to crack or cache.

As the first leaves the second flutters in

while the third perches and waits its turn.

If only the politicians I am reading about

could show such interest in the common good.

— Richard Stokes


The Capital City Weekly accepts submissions of poetry, fiction and nonfiction for Writers’ Weir. To submit a piece for consideration, email us at editor@capweek.com.


More in Home

This combination image shows senior students Kiley Morris, 18, of Thunder Mountain High School, Helen John, 17, of Yaakoosgé Daakahídi High School, and Krishna Bathija, 18, of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. Each is scheduled to speak at their respective graduation ceremonies on Sunday. (Photos by Juneau Empire staff)
3 on ‘23: Graduating seniors discuss past lessons and future plans

Students among speakers at Juneau’s three high school ceremonies Sunday

Players line up during the final quarter of Juneau Alumni Football game on Friday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Friday night lights: Alumni game provides memories and funds for Huskies football

The night raised approximately $13,000 to go toward the upcoming season.

Matthew Murray, an attorney representing the Alaska State Employees Association, presents the union’s arguments in its lawsuit against the Dunleavy administration to the Alaska Supreme Court on Oct. 13, 2022. (Screenshot from Gavel Alaska livestream)
Dunleavy illegally altered rules for union dues, state supreme court rules

Nearly $450,000 in damages and costs awarded to ASEA as judgement in 2019 lawsuit upheld

Dozens of Juneau teachers, students and residents gather at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Jan. 23 in advocacy for an increase in the state’s flat funding via the base student allocation, which hasn’t increased sizeably since 2017 and has failed to keep pace with inflation during the past decade. A one-time funding increase was approved during this year’s legislative session. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
What’s next for the most debated bills pending in the Legislature?

Education funding increase, “parental rights” and other proposals will resurface next year.

The wildlife shelter at the top of Mount. Roberts sits empty Friday morning. The building future remains in limbo as it is owned by the Juneau Raptor Center, which this fall announced it would be suspending its operations by the end of 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Fate of Lady Baltimore’s shelter atop Mount Roberts in limbo

The $170,000 building remains unoccupied after Juneau Raptor Center announced dissolution this fall.

JDHS boys junior keeper Alex Mallott celebrates a goal by sophomore Ahmir Parker (2) during the Crimson Bears 2-0 win over Ketchikan in the ASAA DII Boys State Soccer semifinal, Friday, at West Anchorage High School. (Courtesy Photo / JDHS soccer)
JDHS boys too much for Kayhi

Crimson Bears defeat Kings for berth into state soccer championship

(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Opinion: Sustainability report is a greenwashing effort

Report leaves out “the not-so-pretty.”

In this file photo from last week Juneau Douglas’s Peyton Wheeler (5) runs downfield with the ball during Juneau-Douglas and Kayhi’s 1-1 tie at Fawn Mountain. JDHS fell to Kenai in the state semifinals 2-0 on Friday. (Courtesy Photo / Christopher Mullen, Ketchikan Daily News)
JDHS soccer girls tumble in state semifinals

Crimson Bears fall to Kenai Kardinals

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé base runner Finn Kesey steals second base as Sitka’s Brett Ross awaits the throw and base umpire Keith Perkins watches the action during the Wolves 9-2 win over the Crimson Bears during the Region V Baseball Tournament, Friday, at Adair Kennedy Field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS falls to Sitka in region baseball semifinal

TMHS eliminated from tournament by Ketchikan

Most Read