Tribute to a Feathered Warrior (JM)

 (Joseph MacRae, from 1992)

Tribute to a Feathered Warrior

(from the journal, 1992, upon moving from

South Carolina to Tacoma, Washington)

Barely back, miss the South already. Well,

at least a good movie’s on. It’s General Patten,

he had his crossroads too. Halted his jeep, 

his men midmarch, there where Caesar had. 

It’s true. And he told them. How great Caesar

halted right in the middle of the road, so they 

could watch a bird. Two game roosters to be exact,

fighting like the dickens. And my spirit it flew back

to South Carolina. Cock fighting, it’s vicious. But 

it’s a royal sport. And so even the great Caesar 

bowed his head in the end. “That.” he told his men,

“is how I want you to fight!” Kind of reminds me of 

the Old Testament sacrifices, one bird offered so 

another can fly free. And it begs for a poem…

Long ago in ancient Rome, so I am told,

two great armies marched to war. 

One from the West and one from the East. 

As yet, neither had seen defeat.

Suddenly, the Roman General

gave his command for all the troops to halt. 

He turned to his army and said with a grin,

“The battle is about to begin!”

The two little warriors, facing each other proud. 

They wore no suit of armor, nor rode upon steed.

THei weapons were their beaks, wings and feet.

Their spurs as sharp as swords.

They crowed their challenge loudly,

and showed their colors proudly.

One small cock of grey, the other feathered red.

Their hackle feathers shining,

tail feathers streaming, 

They lowered their heads,

the charge began.

With the fury of a tempest wind,

wings beating the air,

beaks pecking,

Feet shuffling,

As spurs pierced each other’s flesh.

As the battle comes to an end and

the dust begins to settle,

feathers lay all around. 

One brave feathered warrior lay dead upon the ground. 

The victor, with barely strength to raise his head,

his feathers once shining, now bloody and dull,

eyes in a daze.

With all his might, he rolls back his head,

bows out his chest, and 

Gives his “Victory Crow!”

“Let all the word know, the General spoke, 

“take heed this day, as history unfolds. 

Remember men how proudly one cock fought, 

and how bravely one cock died!”