Adolescent
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 arcÂ
against the sky.
Stephanie Green
Note: scorie (Shetlandic): an adolescent herring gull
Published in the Edinburgh Review: Wynd, Issue 130: Autumn, 2010