Wild tom yesterday at the far
edge of woods
cautiously measuring potential
snatching bugs from leaves
of cinnamon and interrupted ferns.
Today under the bird feeder
still alone among the dross
of sunflower seeds.
I imagine him
the Judas of turkeys,
outcast and made brave
by his hunger
or the Magdalene of turkeys
shunned
for being most
what the others need.
This article appears in Nov 21-27, 2007.
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