*

*

Who is he dancing for, this grackle

perched in the crepe myrtle?

He preens neck feathers,

calls out a few measures

of grackle love song

flutters his wings, takes

a bow, and starts again

*

There is no other bird in sight,

no grackle girl, no male rival,

no robin, crow or sparrow

Perhaps it’s a grackle rehearsal

Perhaps it’s grackle OCD

Perhaps it’s an expression of joy:

I am God’s perfect grackle, and I dance.