(squawking dogfighter)
bomb an eagle away.
Despite its sound
the seagull seems nobler
and despite their looks
bald eagles seem
a bit petty, hardly
about to clutch arrows and
pose behind the shield
for an abstract geography:
they'd get bored,
soar off dramatically.
Seagulls would understand
the need for broadcast propaganda
red marks to keep the young pecking
klaxons to keep everyone aware
that threat level is now orange,
is always orange.
Seagulls are clearly the better bird
to paint on missiles and
stitch into TSA badges,
staring at you suspiciously
on every bold-headlined page
of taxes, immigration surveys.
Ben Franklin proposed the turkey
for our national bird,
but now we are fierce and hungry
with eyes in every port.