Beautiful little oxpecker
atop the rhinoceros;

why doesn’t Rhino protest
as you perch upon his back?

Do you tickle his fancy as
you clean bugs from off his skin;

Or are free meals and transportation,
reward for screeching warnings
about dangers far and near?

No matter the rhyme or reason
for your symbiotic life,

You bear homage to the adage,
“There are no free rides anywhere.”

Photo: Red billed oxpeckers (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) on rhino.Sabi Sands, South Africa. Photo by Lee R. Berger. Attribution: Profberger at en.wikipedia