This poem was written by the grandmother of a good friend of mine. I had introduced my first Bird, Gabriel, to her and he was fascinated with her red hair! So she sent me a volume of her grandmother's poetry, which had this poem in it. I don't know if she knew pigeons but she sure got it right! She also wrote about many other kinds of birds and animals, as well as people.
CORAL-FOOTED PIGEON
Little coral-footed pigeon,
Walking just as ladies do,
With a sidling and a nodding
And a modulated "whoo,"
With your amber eye aglitter
And your sharply penciled beak,
With your rainbow scarf of feathers
Round your shoulders to your cheek;
Quaker-grey your gown of feathers,
Mottled grey your tail, a train
Which you can spread out or gather
Like a courtesan of Spain.
Not for you the field or forest,
Rather city streets and parks;
Are you longing for the Lido,
For Saint Peter's or Saint Mark's?
Are you doubting me or trusting?
Would I had a crumb or two,
Little coral-footed pigeon,
Walking just as ladies do.
from The Gleam, 1944-45
Linda Lyon Van Voorhis
CORAL-FOOTED PIGEON
Little coral-footed pigeon,
Walking just as ladies do,
With a sidling and a nodding
And a modulated "whoo,"
With your amber eye aglitter
And your sharply penciled beak,
With your rainbow scarf of feathers
Round your shoulders to your cheek;
Quaker-grey your gown of feathers,
Mottled grey your tail, a train
Which you can spread out or gather
Like a courtesan of Spain.
Not for you the field or forest,
Rather city streets and parks;
Are you longing for the Lido,
For Saint Peter's or Saint Mark's?
Are you doubting me or trusting?
Would I had a crumb or two,
Little coral-footed pigeon,
Walking just as ladies do.
from The Gleam, 1944-45
Linda Lyon Van Voorhis
