GEOCOCCYX CALIFORNIANUS

ON AN ARIZONA HIGHWAY I WAS
WHEN IN FRONT OF ME IT APPEARED
ONE MOMENT IT WAS STANDING STILL
THE NEXT, IT WAS RACING IN HIGH GEAR

I KNOW I’VE SEEN ONE BEFORE
IT WAS IN A WARNER BROTHERS CARTOON
BEING CHASED BY A FRUSTRATED CANINE
ODDS OF IT CATCHING IT, NOT VERY SOON

SLENDER, BUILT FOR SPEED IT WAS
A BROWN AND WHITE BLUR, IT STREAKED
A TOP KNOT OF FEATHERS I BARELY SAW
AND A LONG AND SLENDER BEAK

THERE WAS NOTHING CHASING IT
IT WAS OUT FOR IT’S MORNING RUN
WHY IT RAN IN FRONT OF ME, WHO KNOWS
MAYBE IT WAS JUST HAVING A LITTLE FUN

NOW COULD IT BE WHAT I THINK IT IS?
IF SO, THEN I AM TOTALLY THRILLED
IT’S A GEOCOCCYX CALIFORNIANUS
A ROADRUNNER RACING UP A DISTANT HILL

Tuesday, June 21, 2022