The Posturing Grackle
by Hezekiah Allen Taylor

Mary is quite like the common blackbird
(astute observation): all noise and nose
and feathers of a high-gloss black
(I always said that her hair dye had
no depth of color)

if you get a good look at her eyes
before she hides them behind clear-glass shades
and seven in-depth layers of mascara
you'd notice the yellow quite quickly
but if you looked for it hard, stared at it straight
it dissipates into the white like egg dropped
into the oily butter of Chinese soup.

Francine's Version -- Hezekiah's Version -- Inspiration
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