Scarlet Ibis

Swamps are the habitats in which I live 
Crustaceans are what I eat 
Allowing me this brilliant 
Radiant red plumage
Long ago they would hunt and eat me
Expensively were my feathers sold
Today, I am a spectacular tourist attraction


Indeed the National Bird of this cosmopolitan island
By law in Trinidad
I am protected and considered endangered 
So take some time and go look for me in Caroni


© Denise Etienne


This is an acrostic poem that I wrote on the Scarlet Ibis, which is the National bird of Trinidad. I am working on a book with friend of mine, Beatrice Bork, a talented animal artist. The book will be a compilation of her watercolors and my poems.