u/Forward-Potential834

Birds ate the heads off of my sunflower seedlings, all 20 of them. I put a screen over my seedlings and that worked for a bit, waited for seed hulls to fall off or pulled them off gently but, these bastards came after my babies and I'd like to consult the internet for practical advice. I grasp I could just bring them indoors for a bit, get a better screen setup or a little greenhouse, but that feels like cheating the magic of growing from seed, so here we are. If y'all have any tips,tricks or advice to keep these beautiful little birds from ripping their heads off before I start making feather pillows, I'm all ears. 😊

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God grant me the serenity

To stop being my enemy

Full of self loathing and hate

Please relieve all this pressure...abate...

I accept the things I cannot change

From dim memories of drinks in my glass

I dare not choke on my breath when I wake

When abandoning hope for the past

I can do what I can

With one simple plan

Don't burn your own book

Turn the page

With meditation do pen, a new story of men

Don't rip at blurred lines

Turn the page

God grant me the wisdom, between freedom and prison

I will bind a new book

Turn the page…

-Stephen Bailey (OP)

​

In a pinch or a pickle

With a spirit so fickle

My monsters would not stay away

In the hands of my master

I'd wake up still plastered

To hear news of Dr. Jekyll at play

In a pinch, on a mirror

With vision now clearer

My shame now replaced all my pride

Upon awakening, mornings

Could never be boring

I cringe at my eyes, Mr. Hyde

In handcuffs, and cell blocks

Not righteous was my walk

Tic-Toc goes the clock on the wall

As God proclaimed NO YOU CANT HIDE!

From my hand on your life

In sickness, in stillness

My son won't you listen?

Your life's no mistake, nor a crime

So when you feel so asunder

With no light and no thunder

Remember, one thing at a time

-Stephen Bailey (OP)

​

My spirit was strong

Youth in every prong

It took only seconds to slaughter

My mother, my father my daughter

The God of death works all night long

Sympathies, sorrow, you'll feel better tomorrow

Eventually became my song

I write down the hurt, with every verse

Oh why God, just please tell me why?

Did you gift me for worse, with each passing hearse

You killed me so much I won't die

My life a joke so bad you'll cry

I learned to endeavor, best be quick and clever

Life will move on, marching ever

So it's best to get up and try

I remember to breathe, don't quit don't you leave

Love promised me I would get better

Turns out she too lied through her teeth

Now an old friend, with perked ears to lend

Death greets me now each morning, daily

To ask of me, "Steve, how'd you sleep?"

The answers the same, *grits teeth, tongue in cheek

"Good mourning, I slept like my baby."

I smile to mask when I choke

How I love a bad joke

Not quite a pipe, yes I'm all solder

I piped up a query, to feel blessed and less Leary

Oh I am indeed sorry to bother

So how are my mother and father?

In his cloak his expression, or maybe a lesson

In honesty I'd never felt bolder

Death spun me around, in a mirror profound

And showed me their hands on my shoulders

I went all but blind with tears in my eyes

As death spoke so kind, Oh dear nephew

I'm so glad you asked, as you seek you'll find

I can't take the love thats not left you

-Stephen Bailey (OP)

​

My spirit was strong

Youth in every prong

It took only seconds to slaughter

My mother, my father my daughter

The God of death works all night long

Sympathies, sorrow, you'll feel better tomorrow

Eventually became my song

I write down the hurt, with every verse

Oh why God, just please tell me why?

Did you gift me for worse, with each passing hearse

You killed me so much I won't die

My life a joke so bad you'll cry

I learned to endeavor, best be quick and clever

Life will move on, marching ever

So it's best to get up and try

I remember to breathe, don't quit don't you leave

Love promised me I would get better

Turns out she too lied through her teeth

Now an old friend, with perked ears to lend

Death greets me now each morning, daily

To ask of me, "Steve, how'd you sleep?"

The answers the same, *grits teeth, tongue in cheek

"Good mourning, I slept like my baby."

I smile to mask when I choke

How I love a bad joke

Not quite a pipe, yes I'm all solder

I piped up a query, to feel blessed and less Leary

Oh I am indeed sorry to bother

So how are my mother and father?

In his cloak his expression, or maybe a lesson

In honesty I'd never felt bolder

Death spun me around, in a mirror profound

And showed me their hands on my shoulders

I went all but blind with tears in my eyes

As death spoke so kind, Oh dear nephew

I'm so glad you asked, as you seek you'll find

I can't take the love thats not left you

-Stephen Bailey (OP)

​

My spirit was strong

Youth in every prong

It took only seconds to slaughter

My mother, my father my daughter

The God of death works all night long

Sympathies, sorrow, you'll feel better tomorrow

Eventually became my song

I write down the hurt, with every verse

Oh why God, just please tell me why?

Did you gift me for worse, with each passing hearse

You killed me so much I won't die

My life a joke so bad you'll cry

I learned to endeavor, best be quick and clever

Life will move on, marching ever

So it's best to get up and try

I remember to breathe, don't quit don't you leave

Love promised me I would get better

Turns out she too lied through her teeth

Now an old friend, with perked ears to lend

Death greets me now each morning, daily

To ask of me, "Steve, how'd you sleep?"

The answers the same, *grits teeth, tongue in cheek

"Good mourning, I slept like my baby."

I smile to mask when I choke

How I love a bad joke

Not quite a pipe, yes I'm all solder

I piped up a query, to feel blessed and less Leary

Oh I am indeed sorry to bother

So how are my mother and father?

In his cloak his expression, or maybe a lesson

In honesty I'd never felt bolder

Death spun me around, in a mirror profound

And showed me their hands on my shoulders

I went all but blind with tears in my eyes

As death spoke so kind, Oh dear nephew

I'm so glad you asked, as you seek you'll find

I can't take the love thats not left you

-Stephen Bailey (OP)

​

My spirit was strong

Youth in every prong

It took only seconds to slaughter

My mother, my father my daughter

The God of death works all night long

Sympathies, sorrow, you'll feel better tomorrow

Eventually became my song

I write down the hurt, with every verse

Oh why God, just please tell me why?

Did you gift me for worse, with each passing hearse

You killed me so much I won't die

My life a joke so bad you'll cry

I learned to endeavor, best be quick and clever

Life will move on, marching ever

So it's best to get up and try

I remember to breathe, don't quit don't you leave

Love promised me I would get better

Turns out she too lied through her teeth

Now an old friend, with perked ears to lend

Death greets me now each morning, daily

To ask of me, "Steve, how'd you sleep?"

The answers the same, *grits teeth, tongue in cheek

"Good mourning, I slept like my baby."

I smile to mask when I choke

How I love a bad joke

Not quite a pipe, yes I'm all solder

I piped up a query, to feel blessed and less Leary

Oh I am indeed sorry to bother

So how are my mother and father?

In his cloak his expression, or maybe a lesson

In honesty I'd never felt bolder

Death spun me around, in a mirror profound

And showed me their hands on my shoulders

I went all but blind with tears in my eyes

As death spoke so kind, Oh dear nephew

I'm so glad you asked, as you seek you'll find

I can't take the love thats not left you

-Stephen Bailey (OP)