Advice from the Grackle

After joy raises you into the stratosphere,

ride earth’s colors as you wheel down.

Fear backs you into a cave,

only then do you cackle and hiss.

Curse at a tornado and it might curse back.

Why kick pebbles on your enemy?

You will die without burying him.

The ascent out of despair

must be steady, slow, or your lungs

will explode, your blood boil.

Which is wisest: to endure hunger

or waddle among wolves?

Warn those you love when the predator

approaches. Screech loudest when you

are the predator.