Avian Savant (Poetry)

Nothing elegant
about a pigeon —
the king of bumble
and pavement clowning
he bobs and swaggers

In the tree outside
his grip’s uncertain
edging clumsily
along thin branches
bending with his weight

Mating rituals
a cute comedy
performed anywhere
at the drop of leaf
or fancy’s feather

Instinct so distracts
he’s oblivious
to any danger
dancing in the road
blind to cars or cats

Yet once in the air
this master of flight
shows his true colours
displays skills like an
avian savant