Two hungry gulls were circling near
A child dropped one paper-wrapped fry
They landed on grease by the pier
Each bird blew a warning on high
They locked in a screeching, furious cry
And each one swore that the last crumb was mine
One gull wore a vest, Sunday white
The other flashed orange and zest
They pecked at the wrapper like rust
Like rival preachers in feathered unrest
Both strutted on grease by the pier
And each one declared that the last crumb was best
The loser circled the weathered schoolhouse
The winner preened on a spike of iron
They sounded their throats like a bugle and drum
Both thought that the first bite was prime
A shadow fell dark on the pier
Then both claimed that the last crumb was mine
The child waved both hands from the fence
The gulls scattered white through the air
A gull returned wearing a sense
Of absolutely no other care
The grease and the wrapper lay there
While both hungry gulls fastened the prayer
One paper-wrapped gold fry fell
Two hungry hearts met the sky
They locked in a screeching, clashing cry
No gull would surrender the prize
They hauled the small treasure both ways
Then both flew home hungry as kites
One paper-wrapped gold fry fell
Two gutter-born rivals gave cry
They tugged at the wrapper on high
As churchyard birds watched them pass by
They dragged the small treasure both ways
Then both flew home hungry as kites
One paper-wrapped gold fry fell
Two hungry hearts met the sky
They clawed through the feathers on high
No gull would surrender the prize
They spun through the cold Atlantic spray
Then both flew home hungry as kites
One paper-wrapped gold fry fell!
Two hungry hearts met the sky!
They clawed through the feathers on high!
No gull would surrender the prize!
They pulled through the wind, past the spray!
Two feathers fell down from the sky!
