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Victoria Martinez Argentinean BirdsWalking with my family Blazing heat consumes us. Two fluttery birds Energetically fly, Locked in cage of steel Colors worthy of The world’s tropical forests - Bought and taken home Happiness of child New friends introduced in life Forced to play with me Nanny and I stare Filled with disgust at the pen Sparkly clean, we’re done. All day with happy chirps High-pitched and rarely stopping Need of food and water Never ending hope They stare at beauty of sky Sight blinded by bars And two days later The clearly cleaned coop is Dirty again. Ugh - Nanny chose to help And release me from washing Bird escaped, mistake More room in the cell Energetically flying With an empty heart Reflecting on action Flooded with disappointment Called to daily bath. Tweet-Tweet goes ONE bird Is given food and water Continues, Tweet-Tweet Lower notes in voice Me, oblivious to bird’s Loneliness in void Silence swallowed me Something missing in my life … Noiseless jail in den Despair rushed through me My last bird was gone from its Sound sanctuary Suspicion aroused I searched the house for my mom- All instincts alert She sat there tranquil Claiming not to know a thing About incident I accused her of Liberating the last bird. She clothed in denial Pleaded, it escaped While food was being placed in cage Lies, lies, and more lies The guilt dawned on her Confessed to letting it go But eight years had passed. [BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS, CLASS OF 2008 EDITION] |
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