Gull Gathering
by Gay Williford

Court is in session.
Nine seagulls take their seats,
gray robes flapping,
aligning on a condo rooftop,
they settle in before the podium.

Squawking in conference,
they argue over fishing rights,
grumble about pesky tourists,
and discuss nesting issues, then,
nodding to each other vigorously,
pronounce their decisions
and wait for reaction
from the head council,
perched one roof away.

His brashly screeched opinion
prompts raucous response
lasting long minutes.
Then, a ponderous silence,
more heard bobbing, left, right
and when accord seems reached,
agreeable to a gull,
the chief sounds a final shriek–
this gavel signal causing them
to adjourn as one into the sky
and veer off toward the shore,
pleased with this round of proceedings!



 

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