The Cattle Egret
he struts across
the plaza parking lot
like he was mr. universe
proud as hell to be
the cattle egret that he is
his appearance is flawless
except for the perpetual
grease spots on his back
from slipping under parked cars
looking for bugs and lizards to eat
this is his fourth winter here and
i feel compelled to name him something
charlie seems to suit him
although he won't to this day
answer to anything he's called
1st publishing by "The Poet's Guild"
Summer, 1995
2nd publishing by the Poetry Super Highway on-line featured as one of the Poets of the Week, November 3, 2003.