Sick bird

I met a sick bird yesterday

before running class

Just sitting there on the ground

at the bottom of a ditch

with an occasional, sick chirp

All around us, birds screamed in joy

The brave ones stole food from right beside people

The less brave ones flitted about randomly, hopefully,

in a fit of hungry ecstasy

His eyes were opening and closing slowly

I tried to encourage him to move

But he did not listen

I reached for a small stick

reached slowly through the ditch and

prodded him, very gently

But he still did not move

He had let me prod him

Let me try to save him

from the darkness of the ditch

that lay before him

I jumped up in horror.

I fear to seek that stick.

18.05.10