wood pigeon rat-a-tat-tat
enthralled I watched
with wonder through
the kitchen window
feet stuck to
the floor transfixed!
wood pigeons
breasted dusty pink
fat fratching scratching
pair of peanut pilfering pugilists
perched opposite ends of trellis
atop back garden fence
battle line drawn
before taking turns
trading rap tap slaps
wings wildly flapping as they
flopped hopped stropped alternately
backwards and forwards
edging closer or edging apart
not the bang bonk booms
or the clank clatter clinks
of cold steel swords
on chainmail links in
medieval free-style combat
or the blood-and-guts of
bare-knuckle boxing
more the silent slapdash
slapstick spat
of a Laurel and Hardy
rat-a-tat tat!