Ugly Duckling

The Ugly Duckling
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Mud caked onto a stubborn small face
Open eyes with fury of hell behind them
Without a muscle moving the muddy water drips
Onto the dirt pile beneath mixed with grease.
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Two small wings, half a hand width long,
Feathers with too much weight to fly,
They flop around like hotdogs on the grill
but hardly look good enough to eat.
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Small stumpy legs with three long toes hanging like hooks
With little nobes of bones for knees
They stand perfectly still in the cold dark cloudy water
Looking like a predator waiting to strike
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Here it is now, the smallest ugliest duckling,
crouched like a lion in the grass
With glaring eyes, burning holes in its enemies
and it's beak holding a lit match too close to the fuse.
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-end lw