Greater Roadrunner Up In A Tree — Image by kenne
The Roadrunner in the Tree
It’s not something you see every day—
a roadrunner perched in a mesquite,
looking vaguely embarrassed,
like a marathoner caught
riding the bus.
I stop and stare.
He stares back,
each of us unsure
who’s broken the rule of things.
Maybe he just wanted the view—
the wash spread out below,
the sky behaving itself for once.
Or maybe he’s tired
of the running part,
the endless sprint across dust
and open mouths of sunlight.
So here he is,
balancing on a branch,
pretending for one quiet minute
to be something else—
a hawk that knows how to rest.
Thank you, Kenne, for the amusing poem and its hero, the Roadrunner!
Joanna
Awesome image and poem, Kenne.
It’s and awesome bird that like to play tricks with humans.
I’m another who loves the poem.
I’ve never seen that happen, and I’m sure it was a great sight to behold. Also, it sounds like you must live in the desert like I do. There is so much beauty to be found here and it’s easier to spot such curiosities when you can see for miles and miles. 🏜️
Most of the time we see running here and there or occasionally on the patio wall here in Tucson. They can be quite the trickster.