Peacock Display
by David Wagoner
He approaches her, trailing his whole fortune,
Perfectly cocksure, and suddenly spreads
The huge fan of his tail for her amazement.
Each turquoise and purple, black-horned, walleyed quill
Comes quivering forward, an amphitheatric shell
For his most fortunate audience: her alone.
He plumes himself. He shakes his brassily gold
Wings and rump in a dance, lifting his claws
Stiff-legged under the great bulge of his breast.
And she strolls calmly away, pecking and pausing,
Not watching him, astonished to discover
All these seeds spread just for her in the dirt.
*
Images courtesy of Lori Cooper.
Lori loves names, and is also is the author of the book “10,000 House Names”. Her new book “Name your house or Property” is due to be published shortly. You can check her blog and see what it’s all about here.
David Wagoner is an American poet and author who has won numerous awards. You can find more about him here.
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