An Old-Fashioned Courtship

Credit: Dales Fuzzy Photos

He-Cardinals clashing two beaks to one instinct
       feathered body check
       flutter back
       wary regroup
a Wide Receiver’s angle cut off by a Corner
while She-Cardinal hops out of their flight attack pattern

Let’s not romanticize this engagement

The He’s are tunneled visions of red beats bursting
She is a submissive for later inspection

The father of her egg-brood will be the one with
the cruelest aim, most likely to maim, the
deadliest peck-reflex at her options

 (Prompted by Missouri state Sen. Mike Moon’s creepy

 approval of children marrying at twelve years of age)