Book V: Raccoon

The lights are out now
when the day goes blind
to the absence of security
around the garbage cans.

They don't care to strike
without leaving a trace
as they will have long gone
by the light's scaling up.

Their raid
will be
the morning's problem.

They will have their fill
and satisfy their needs
in the forests of people
built up on their lands.

The law has long changed here
but no one will say to them
they cannot adapt well
to their new rulers' tyranny.

The methods have changed
but the end is the same
figured out by the raiders
in the driveways at night.

Book IV: Inchworm

I can get around.

You might call it a rotting wooden fence.
I call it my home turf.
I can make any way around it
Any way I want
And you won't stop me.

My musculature is perfect
For this sort of thing
And if you think otherwise
I'll stand up
To the challenge
And stare you down
You giant bully.

You can't traverse a fence
Like I do.
Maybe you move faster
But I get the job done.

That's the main thing.
I do what I have to do.

I get around.

Beat that, bully.

You can mess with me all you want
But I'll keep on going
Stretching
Pulling
Accomplishing my own objectives

In your face

On my fence.

Book III: Robin

He stands.

Puffy
Red
Proud.

He gazes from the boulevard
Out at the street
Nonchalantly
Through deep black eyes
Set in matte black feathers.

He is the hunter.

He engages in reconnaissance
And moves in for the capture

In one

Fell

Swoop.

The earthworm
Slow
Defenceless
Delicious
Is the prize
Like a trophy
In his beak.

He stands nonchalantly
But he is boasting.
He is showing off
His kill
His chest
His head
His pride.

Males will do
What they must do
For little blue eggs
Little children
Not ready
To empty the nest.

He has done
What he must do.

He will sing of this
When his beak is not full
But for now
He knows

He is the hunter
The provider

The little renegade
With the big heart

And he will stand
And pose
So we all know
What he is

In the anarchy
Of suburbia.

Book II: Swan

Sweep the harbour.
Sweep it clean.

Swan dive.
Come up huge.

Too good to set foot
on the concrete byways.
Belong in the water.

The water belongs.

The ducks are no nuisance.
Serenity rides on the back.

Couples stay afloat.
Couples stick together.
Couples look good.

Couples know it.

Swan dive.
No one will get in the way

of the supreme majesties
of the waterfront.