thirteen balter and the robin rules

thirteen balter and the robin rules

the twelve days of Christmastide.

it began on the long cold night 

of Christmas with an octave 

on New Year's Day

to the twelfth night of the epiphany,

tinged orange breast,

the vicious murdering bully

perched in the holly.

the little robin begged 

to be named

in the avian carol to be,

on constant alert 

one grey partridge in a tree

as danger dares on every ground.

this season ends with the last pear

startled all around

of the great disappearance. 

no rhyme or reason,

two heartsick turtledoves

sing a song of perseverance

and unlove.

countless betrayals boast 

the cockerel of three crows

and two common French hens.

out of order, pray in the name 

of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

four little mondegreens

call the calling blackbirds 

to take a stroll,

with gold-ringed eyes

throwing nuggets of coal. 

on yellow, yellow yellowhammer

in decline. can you count to five,

melting gold bars

to pay the lady gazing at the stars?

six is a gaggle of golden eggs,

goose stop laying,

seven stop swimming.

take flight. drop bombs

on the bank, on a wedge of whiteness

of trumpeter swans.

a whistle, a quaver

wintering bird on the tusk,

where are the moths?

goatsucker maids a-milking, 

eight nightjars feed at dusk.

nine ladies. ten lords land 

in a v formation. courtship banns

just shy of a pair

leaves one peacocking at the door.

cranes a dancing, grouse a leaping,

ruffled feathers on the floor.

full display, the keepsake bird

spreads his wings in fight or flight.

eleven sandpipers piping 

without lore or alarm,

call out to the apostles!

twelve woodpeckers drumming

in the calm before the storm.

transform,

red-jacketed postmen,

transform.

no room for redwing dapper thrush,

or the dinky goldcrest, 

tits, or woodcock.

no room for the Winter king 

in the warmth of a wren’s roost. 

follow the little messengers

of guidance and protection

to hope and optimism. 

scorched breast, oak king of the solstice,

solitary oyster,

the thirteenth single robin rules.

fluffing feathers to keep warm,

comes the favored bird

to balter beyond this avian song 

of Christ’s mass. red robin breast

left off the wedding list, 

fan the flames of greetings,

holy days of merriment

and the Greek letter X.

they were all birds of a feather,

maestro rules.

jolly yule, dancing on tiptoes

a string with repeating syllables

toward spring,

call of the little robin, Kristos.