That bird I’m sure I do not know
Turns out, of course, to be a crow.
What’s that that’s brown–wings long and narrow?
Exasperating. English sparrow.
Down there! The water-bird! Oh, shucks.
Mallard. Most plentiful of ducks.
And that one with the purple back’ll
Turn out in time to be a grackle.
Keep looking sharp, and what has wings
Turns out the commonest of things;
But fail just once–avert your eyes–
And miss the rarest thing that flies!
by Ray Romine Saturday, October 13, 1951
