4 am and he’s at it.
Yelling against pale day
he feels the weight of sun.
He’s all erect, throbbing red
comb trembling. He’s heavy
tailed, rapier beaked. Unsheathed
his spurs mean business. Crowing
his blood runs with boasts.
Burnished bronze feathers overlay
pitch. His strut marks him.
His eyes fierce as sunrise.

Finola Scott’s poems and short stories are widely published in anthologies and magazines including The Ofi Press, Raum, Dactyl, The Lake, Poets’ Republic, Fat Damsel, and Snares Nest. She is pleased to be mentored this year on the Clydebuilt Scheme by Liz Lochhead. A performance poet, she is proud to be a slam-winning granny.