by Marshall Begel

“Pigeon found outside Florida hair salon reunites with owner after 15 months”
—WSVN

I’ve heard “rats with wings” amid scurrilous things
Describing the lowly rock dove,
But harming a pigeon would cross my religion
For he may be somebody’s love.

That lawn-wrecking hole might be home to a mole
That’s cherished by someone or other.
Assume every spider might have eggs inside her,
And people admire a mother.

So don’t predetermine that pests are mere vermin
For all may be precious to some,
Except I cast vetoes on grace for mosquitos—
To hell with that bloodsucking scum!