her partner arches his back (Étendre)
tap-tapping around her
fanning his obsidian wings (Glisser)
a song sparrow center stage trills
m’lady scurries forward
bowing low to the earth
her tailfeathers spread (Plier)
at this lesson in love dance courting
the besotted fellow hopping
his satiny head spun by sunlight
fine feathers fine wings folding unfolding (Sauter)
and scampers to the bird feeder to tell his mother.
-Ewing Eugene Baldwin
Ewing Eugene Baldwin is a freelance journalist and editor. His essays,”The Genehouse Chronicles,” are at http://www.eugenebaldwin.com.