Zenaida macroura,
Carolina Turtledove,
Mourning Dove.
Feathers shimmering
cream, fawn, gray and black
earth-toned stained glass.
The Oh woo–woo–woo–woo
a call to sleep,
or to wake.
Eye black as coal,
little black accent stripes
casually applied beneath.
Mammasita sits in a hanging planter
dark flecked tan pottery with a brown rim
a perfect compliment.
A patch of dusty rose on the neck
is the only way I can tell
male from female.
Seventy million killed annually for sport or food.
She sits on her second brood,
they will raise up to six a year.
Ten days ago, she hatched two squab,
perfectly camouflaged, ruffled feathers
the color of dirt and dry grass.
they flew off Friday
and have not returned.
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