Bird of the slow waddle,
belly full of 10,000 seeds,
head pecking faster than
a sewing machine.

Sleek, feathered gourd
wading through waves of grass
in no hurry to go anywhere
but where to eat grains.

Wide-eyed, startled one
astonished by everything,
cooing as it briskly paddles
wings against gravity

struggling to lift the feathered
weight of its pear shape
even a short distance to safety
then cushion its descent.

Bird of the shoddy nest,
flimsy stick-work, eggs peeking
out underneath, too busy
brood-making to make neat.

Buddha's belly. Noah's
olive branch. Muhammad's
confidant. Aladdin's lamp
with wishes for wings.

Paltry sacrifice at the altar
of voracious gods in ancient times;
meager meal on the table, still today,
of the even-hungrier poor.

Most doleful mourning dove
at rest on a branch
or telephone wire
contemplating the wall of air.

© by John Smith.
Used with the author's permission.