Damned Grackles Poem by Juan Olivarez

Black birds swooping down, from the Elm tree,
While my dog soundly sleeps.
They land two feet from her,
And tilt their heads,
As if to see,
If she is actually asleep.

Then quickly they jump,
On her dog food bowl,
And each takes a dog food chunk.
Then they mosey over,
To the water bowl to soak them.

Once they are soft enough,
They down them hungrily.
At this particular time,
Glenda chooses to awaken.
Her teeth bared, the grackles take flight.

5/5/11 Alton Texas