5/30: Rufous Hummingbird #2

Swaggering

Gem-jawed thief
Armor-plated honey-tongue 
Chirrup chirrup tzee
Chirr whirr heckle jab 
Hum thrumm bee 

3/30: Warrior (Rufous Hummingbird #1)

Dawn. The warrior rises from his nest,

ties round his throat

chainmaille of fish scales

and admires himself in the birdbath.

Fire glints from his wings

as he drives before him

the helpless throngs of gnats

and midges. They perish above

the smooth lawns of suburbia.

The tuberose are trumpets

proclaiming his triumph.

He sups their sweet nectars.

No one will challenge his sword.

Even the chipmunks tremble.

for Marilyn

Here's a silly little poem about rufous hummingbirds. They're tiny and flashy and fierce, and I adore them.  Thanks to All About Birds for educating me so I could completely fabricate stuff about fish scales.