Edison Jennings: “Feathered Heraldry”
FEATHERED HERALDRY
For David Baker
Pileated, splay-clawed
Peckerhead appears,
An unfazed red-fezed
Rapiered musketeer
Grappled to a maple,
Pecking paradiddles.
Fusillades of brisk tattoos
Rattle through the trees,
Rapping out the news
That spring outflanks the winter
Along the southern front,
Advancing all aflutter.
Edison Jennings’ poetry has appeared or will soon appear in Boulevard, Inertia, Kenyon Review, Literal Latté, Poetry Daily, River Styx, Slate, Southern Review, Southwest Review, Southern Poetry Review, and TriQuarterly. His chapbook, Reckoning, is published by Jacar Press.