[David Callin]

Out of the darkness
suddenly swooped a bird
with mighty wings and legs
so orange, in our lights,
he might have been wearing tights.
He waggled his big head

and walked about a bit -
happy, so we thought,
at our attention -
but distracted also,
acting as though
something was the question

until at last he rose
in a thunderous rush
of those mighty wings,
leaving us mere groundlings
to goggle in a hush
of mute applause.