Pecked More

A poem of observation

Photo by Ben Bruges

Pecked More

A gull noticed the fish still stuck
in rolled-tight trawl netting —
pecked, pecked more, failed;

leaning back in pure frustration,
head tilted to the sky, beak wide —
echoed a call across the harbour,

the cliffs, the rough seas beyond —
a harsh warning to other birds
to stay away, before again stabbing

and, finally, ripping out guts and flesh.
I turned away, squeamish at the mess;
calling triumphant, it settled to feast.