Blackbird Moulting

I thought my little mate the blackbird
was being bullied by his flock
maybe pressured to renounce our friendship
his little yellow nose looked painfully pecked
his tail short and dishevelled as his feathers
I might have been wrong
his beak now looks healthy and strong
of shiny long black coat and tail
worthy of any self-respecting bird gangster
groomed and pedicured to the nines.