For the Malheur Bird Sanctuary

The sanctuary, now held hostage by militia men, began as a way to protect wild birds from being destroyed for the millinery pleasures of ladies' fancy hats. For the sanctuary now in danger, I re-post this poem:

Price of Beauty

The birds of paradise pay

fascinating feathery frills

marketed for millinery trade

magenta bellies and emerald throats

Fascinating feathery frills

a plume craze into extinction

magenta bellies and emerald throats

women wear the males on their heads

A plume craze into extinction

one ounce of feathers for two ounces of gold

women wear the males on their heads

courtship props of the highest price

One ounce of feathers for two ounces of gold

I would just die to have that hat.

Courtship props of the highest price

the birds of paradise pay