A storm’s wrath had wrenched
the robin’s nest from the tree above.

Jerry and i, boys of ten or so,
stumbled upon it the next morning.

The mother robin stood her ground,
fluffing her feathers in defiance.

we two, pretending brave hunters,
executed her with a BB gun, and laughed.

Jerry grew up, played big-time college football,
and became a famous California detective.

i went on to teach children to read and write,
and lay bare my shame in poetry.