LOVE Poem: SNOWY EGRET, by Dennis McGuire

Followin’ the day of the local fiesta
crew ‘n cat’re startled from their siesta
A snowy egret flutters in through the hatch
an’ for Woody the boatcat an easy catch

On the cabin sole this bird alights
an’ Woody’s got it in his sights
In an instant that Yankee cat’s there
givin’ this poor bird a lethal stare

With Woody’s nose inches away
the bird closes its eyes an’ begins to sway
This catbird situation’s tense
the crew’s watchin’ in great suspense

Woody kept cockroaches off the boat
chased away birds wantin’ to rest an’ float
Now the crew’s seein’ somethin’ strange occurin’
‘cause Woody the Yankee cat’s a purrin’!?

On one leg, snowy egret’s standin’ there
the other leg’s tucked away somewhere
The little bird’s head cocks to one side
the snowy egret stood there an’ died

Of what might have occurred the crew’s certain
but somehow, Woody knew this bird was hurtin’
Cause a purrin’ cat with no tail twitchin’
for a fight its not itchin’

How Woody was aware
even a guess we would not dare
But somethin’ else the crew’s not understandin’
how a bird could die an’ on one leg still be standin’?!

Dennis McGuire
From the “Ballad of Calypso”
“Rhyme of the Modern Mariner”