Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Magpie
 
(In demonstration of the superiority of Wallace Stevens' poem "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" and in demonstration of the joy of bird watching)
 

I
Animalia
Chordata
Aves, Passeriformes
Corvidae
Pica hudsonia
 
II
Common and conspicuous
In fact, ubiquitous
 
III
Black-billed like the relatives
Crows, jays, and ravens
Yes, a big family.
 
IV
Wock wock-a-wock weer weer.
My ear not tuned for the noisemaker,
I cannot translate.
 
V
Tail raised for walking
Straight for flying,
And dropped, descending.
Am I as obvious?
 
VI
Black hat, coat, and tie, white vest
Iridescent and flashy and formal
 
VII
The magpie is a scavenger
by occupation, but why, what
do we scavenge each day?
 
VIII
Following people through centuries
along paths, dirt roads, and pavement
Finding carrion for carrying on
 
IX
Dine on ticks and mice,
fruit or seeds, or roadkill,
Just as omnivorous as
the literary magpie.
 
X
Flight.  Flying.
Take me.
 
XI
As spring snow covers blooming flowers,
go easy, go to the feeder, take the handout.
 
XII
Build a nest for speckled eggs
But winter roost among the trees
 
XIII
Birds, branches, snow:
piebald bird in piebald scene.
Where’s Waldo?