State Bird of Kansas

by George Paris
Meadowlark

• intent on being

 

• heard in spite of wind,

 

• rises from modest nest

 

• singing the prairie dry.

 

• Unaware of election

 

• to avian poet laureate,

 

• makes allegro music,

 

• few notes floating

 

• in tangled air

 

• disappearing in oblivion.

 

• The lark composes

 

• meadow sweetness

 

• in counterpoint to

 

• rattlesnake percussion

 

• singing musical reprise

 

• in buffalo grass

 

and tumble weed.