WOOD PIGEON WAR - alternative version

Enthralled

I watched with wonder

Through the kitchen window

Feet stuck to the floor

Transfixed!

Wood pigeons

Dusty pink breasted

Fat fratching scratching pair

of peanut pilfering pugilists

Perched opposite ends of trellis

Atop back garden fence

Battle line drawn

Before taking turns

Trading rap tap slaps

Wings wildly flapping

As they flopped hopped stropped alternately

Backwards and forwards

Edging closer or edging apart

Not the bang bonk booms

Or the clank clatter clinks

Of cold-steel weapons on chainmail links

In Medieval free-style combat

Or the blood-and-guts of bare-knuckle boxing

But more the silent slapdash slapstick spat

Of a Laurel and Hardy 

Rat-a-tat tat!

@ Rowland Paul Hill 30 March 2017