Like dropped white petals
in the Colonel’s yard,
lie wing bones
and feathers—
cat, coyote, or
desert skunk,
having taste for only
head and trunk.
But, no hint of scent
of the last night spent—basting
in the coo that ended in a coup.
© 2025 Jennifer Wagner
Very nicely written. Must not have been a skunk or you would have smelled it!
ReplyDeleteI love the rhythm in your poem - and such a wonderful title to bring us in Jae
ReplyDeletemmmm, so utterly original. loved everything about it.
ReplyDeleteYour title is a little poem of its own, Jennifer, and I love the earthiness of your quadrille, the contrast between the simile of the ‘dropped white petals’ and the harshness of the alliterative ‘cat, coyote, or desert skunk’. It’s tragic to lose chickens that way, but there is always the thought that it’s just Nature’s way.
ReplyDeleteThis is so vivid, describing that end of the dove... love it.
ReplyDeleteYou literally had me with the title!
ReplyDeleteLovely use of contrast here with "dropped white petals," and "cat, coyote, or desert skunk," 💙
ReplyDeletePoor baby. I love mourning doves and find one the hawk got once in a while. I love the way you chose your words here!
ReplyDelete'Nature, red in tooth and claw.'
ReplyDeleteAwesome poem, Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteYvette M Calleiro :-)
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
That title is something and Jennifer I am always in awe of your talent in making each chosen word to sing. Stunning. ❤️
ReplyDelete