Some embrace them as the unofficial mascots of Texas cities — looking at you, Austin. But others are put off by their scavenger natures. The grackle inspired this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Grackle
The hairs on my neck
Are starting to hackle
I can feel it in the air
Approaching — grackle
Those sleek shiny feathers
Like blue-black wind
But don’t let it fool you
It’s not your friend
Sure it eats mosquitoes
Which we all hate
But it also is up there
Laying in wait
Maybe in a tree
On on a power line
The air, shimmers
All is not fine
The poop is flying down!
Like the very air is alive!
I just wish I hadn’t parked there
Now it’ll be hours, before I can drive.
Typewriter Rodeo airs each Friday on Texas Standard. Send us your ideas for a poem on 
