Poetry- Honorable Mention

The red-winged blackbird awakens the marsh
in early spring, claiming his turf.
His epaulets gleam in morning light,
as he patrols his chosen territory.

In early spring he claims his turf,
becomes a blur of motion
as he patrols his chosen territory
and prepares for the arrival of mates.

The red-wing becomes a blur of motion
as he advertises his presence with song
and prepares for the arrival of mates
who will build nests among cattails.

He advertises his presence with song
attracting a dull brown harem
who will build nests among cattails
where they can lay their eggs.

Attracting a dull brown harem
of mates that look like large sparrows,
mates who will lay his eggs,
he lords it over his bit of the wetland.

His mates look like large sparrows
but his epaulets gleam in morning light.
Lording it over his bit of the wetland,
the red-winged blackbird awakens the marsh.

Wilda Morris, workshop chair of Poets & Patrons of Chicago, has written much of her poetry in Green Lake and Door Counties. She leads poetry workshops at Green Lake Conference Center and attends workshops at The Clearing. Her blog, Wilda Morris’s Poetry Challenge, at wildamorris.blogspot.com, provides monthly contests for poets.