A Well-Kept Cage

1

The bright bird chirps
in her decorated cage,
happily arranging her seeds
in pleasing patterns,
and admiring the regular
formality of the thin wire bars --
so perfectly vertical and satisfying.

_______

2

She chitters and preens
in the mirror,
telling herself, yet again,
what a clever little bird she is
to have such a well-kept cage.

_______

3

Her doting owner
admires his little bird --
'tush tush tush' he coos
through the wire.
She tips her head in response and
fluffs her feathers,
filling him with pleasure.

_______

4

He lovingly fills her seed tray
each morning,
gives her fresh water
twice a day,
cleans the cage
every Saturday.
Together, they admire
the well-kept cage.

_______

5

In the garden, one day,
he hears a new birdsong
and looks into the tangled branches
for a glimpse of the singer.
He puts out a seed tray
and, soon, he hears the song every day.

_______

6

Each day, he lingers by the window
and spends time in the garden,
hoping to catch a glimpse of
his garden-warbler.

_______

7

In time, he sees the little brown
bird as she comes down to the feeder.
Her looks are nondescript,
but her lilting song
weaves a spell around him.

_______

8

Each day, he tends his cage bird --
filling her seed tray
each morning,
giving her fresh water
twice a day,
and cleaning the cage
every Saturday.

_______

9

He calls 'tush tush tush'
to his pretty cage bird,
and he calls 'tirra lirra'
to his garden bird.

_______

10

One golden summer day,
the garden bird sings a larger song
that fills the sky with molten sound
and keeps him rapt
as shadows lengthen.

_______

11

In the liquid music, he hears
treasure ships reaching safe harbour;
celebrations of races well run;
anthems of praise;
echoes of comfort and joy.
Unicorns and mermaids
dance on sandy shores
while the Rainbow Serpent
magnifies the land.

_______

12

He reaches out, wishing for her.
His delight knows no limit
when she settles on his palm,
tips her head on one side and studies him.
They sing 'tirra lirra' together.

_______

13

All through the summer,
he sings 'tirra lirra' with his garden bird
and 'tush tush tush' with his cage bird.

_______

14

Summer's fullness eases into Autumn
and he wonders whether
the two birds might sing together.
He carries the garden bird into the house,
holds her before the cage and
watches as the birds nod to each other.

_______

15

But then the cage bird spits and flaps,
scattering seed and splashing water.
"Tch-tch-tch!" she cries.
The garden bird flies to his shoulder
in alarm.
The cage bird scolds in fury
and splays her feathers angrily
as the owner tries to soothe.
She jerks on her perch,
hostile and threatening,
filling the room with agitation.

_______

16

The man feels the garden bird
lift from his shoulder,
and, from the corner of his eye,
sees her dart out the door,
as he tries to reassure his
pretty cage bird.

_______

17

All through the winter,
the cage bird sulked
while her owner lovingly
filled her seed tray
each morning,
gave her fresh water
twice a day,
and cleaned the cage
every Saturday.
Together, they admired
her well-kept cage.

_______

18

But no one sang 'tush tush tush',
and 'tirra lirra' wasn't heard any more.