Poem: Fledgling Flicker

Apologies to the poet for getting her name wrong!

Fledgling Flicker
Photo by Christine Southwick

Fledgling Flicker

By Cynthia Sheridan

Mother Nature’s marvel is this flicker hatched last spring

Now splayed across my feeder, just a baby, on the wing

Like all things bright and beautiful, he comes in technichrome

While foraging with family, this backyard is his home

Dalmatian dappled fluffy chest and handsome scalloped trim

Across his neck a scarlet streak, a bib beneath his chin

Often feeding on the ground, gobbling ants and mites

Today he takes a sampling of some tasty birdseed bites

A rustle from the dogwood and the flicker lifts his head

A farewell flash of brilliant orange as wings are quickly spread

The gentle creature swoops and turns, then stops to take a rest

Beside the rotting tree where he may one day carve a nest