Field Note

by DAVID MCCORD

The nuthatch is inclined to nip,
The hummingbird’s inclined to sip,
The swallow is inclined to dip,
The osprey is inclined to grip,
The catbird is inclined to quip,
One sparrow is inclined to chip,
The hawk and owl incline to rip,
The snipe is much inclined to snip,
The penguin is inclined to flip,
The whippoorwill inclined to whip,
The shrike I am inclined to skip.