The hollow one who looks like a fat
flamingo squawks fast in a staccato burst
of swamp nonsense that draws laughing
critters off the banks into the water.

The cunning one who looks like a turtle,
moving slowly, deliberately, saying one
thing, meaning another, crawls in with
eyes just above the surface of the swamp.

The friendly, smiling, dark-plumed one
perched high on a branch, looking down
on the swamp whistling that he is above
it all sees his prey and dives in.