Snap: Boy and Cockatiel
Not content with their four budgies,
which flit many-coloured about his room,
his mother has bought him a cockatiel,
just six weeks old; named it Sunriseı;
pale yellow, with a ruffly cheeky crest,
and bright red patches under beady eyes.
Perches on the ladıs shoulder
while he walks slowly about
inside and out, chatting to it tenderly,
feels already itıs learning to talk.
Shifts from the ladıs finger to yours
to your shoulder as in this snap,
then back to the boy. Theyıre sorry to say
its wings were clipped before they got it.
Shh, theyıre airborne in their imaginary
language, known only to Sunrise and Michael.
The budgies wait in a cage in the car,
readied for the big family flit
from Victoria to South Australia.
Fly then if you must: beware of clippers.
Wednesday 27 February 2008
Max Richards
Doncaster, Victoria
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