poetry:// broken song...

Once in Haiti this guy went up on the roof to fix the TV antenna I watched as he carefully climbed the tree and stepped on a waving branch to the roof top until he disappeared and I could no longer see him... as he walked on the roof...

His tree climbing must of disturbed a small bird because it soon left the high branches and floated to the edge of the roof resting there and full of song...

it was a calming song... the melody made you grateful for the warm sun and the cool breeze of the day.

Suddenly the sound changed...
It was now a loud painful sound and the small bird bounce hard on the floor before my feet. The guy on the roof had sneaked up and kicked it as hard as he could for no good reason... it was a tiny bird... not large enough for food... I was only about 5 years old I picked it up... with its wings broken it cried out not in song anymore but in pain... people in the house wanted me to hand it over... they would cook it for me they said... I cried tears, yelled, and refused... I held it strong... I held it for hours as it chirped in pain...

Later someone gave me a dirty rag and said make a little bed for it and you can nurse it back to health... I place the little rag near my pillow... and nested the bird on it... it sang for two days and went quiet... it was dead and they took it and cooked it... it was not big enough for a meal... but they shared it... I collected the bones and buried it and said a prayer.

This world is so cruel...
and so many wait to feed off your song. I just met an angel with a broken wing and I feel sorrow that someone must have kicked her in mid song... I want to show her love but how many days before she too is silent... I will wash her feet with my tears as I pray.