Three Terra Cotta Plates Poem by Juan Olivarez

Theres three terracotta plates way in the back, under some giant elm trees.
They serve as containers, as a birdbath, birds drink there as do the bees.
Today as I sat repotting some sage, the scarlett kind grown Texas way,
I was tired and sore, I'd been hard at my Work, glad it was the end Of the day.
When a grackel appeared on one Of the plates, with a petrified piece Of tortilla.
This he dropped in one plate, to moisten it some, in another a bath so surreal.
After his bath, he jumped back to the plate, where his meal was Now palatable and soft.
Then he swallowed it whole, shook his feathers a bit, and proceeded quickly aloft.
If theres a moral here, I missed it, I just took it all in at a glance.
I'm just glad I was there and wittnessed that sight, a one in a thousand chance.

2/27/14 Alton Texas