A Pileated Woodpecker Poem by Raymond Farrell

A Pileated Woodpecker drumming a tree
Became quite put out with me
Fast to flight, then circling cautiously
He took to berating me incessantly.

No need for words, the meaning was clear
A screech of indignity, nothing of fear
To think that I would disturb his work
Was enough to make him go berserk.

In truth, he was right and I was wrong
Any insistence I didn't belong
Confronted my prejudice face to face
Bird enough, he put me in my place.