Red Rooster

Red Rooster

With Regal Plumage

You strut about the yard

Like some Roman Centurion

Your beautiful feathers

Belie your nobility

In some previous life

When Emperors coveted you

You crow continuously

In the early morning darkness

Rousing awake

All the hotel guests

I take you up in my arms

And you do not fight

Trust you feel that I do no harm

As gently I put you in a bag

Not bound for the cooking pot

Or the butcher's block

But to give you your freedom

I cast you off the back wall

And you fly back down to the ground

In the dark stillness of the wee morning hours