bursting out of his feathers,

all shoulders and claws,

a ball of squawks,

fluff and no style.

His neck jerks up

then shuts like a telescope.

A shrug and high dudgeon

he sulks and hurrumps.

Then up in the air,

he leans against the wind

describes an elegant arc 

against the sky.

Stephanie Green

Note: scorie (Shetlandic): an adolescent herring gull

Published in the Edinburgh Review: Wynd, Issue 130: Autumn, 2010