The Bird Cage

I remember when I was smaller 
my father took me on walks
He brought me along 
through walks in the forests
and soon mountain tops.  


I grew quite fond of walking 
and would walk almost anywhere
where a path led
 It was until one day my father said 
'lets have a walk in the forest next door'
I felt shaky as I knew who we lived beside
and putting a brave face on 
my father and I
hurried into the mist of the woods


As the light disappeared so did our house 
we were greeted by rotted barks 
and stumped on mushrooms
but we carried on 
like as anyone else


I spotted a blaring red sign that read beware
and the look on my father's face never looked so hollow
 he told me to run back and that he will catch up
so I did what I was told 
and ran straight for home


My heart was pounding 
my brain overheating 
I felt I should have went back to the sign
but then again I would be safer soon at home
So I kept running until I saw something 
a kid should never know


A bird cage 
a big one that had metal wires wrapped around
a cage door with stacked logs against it 
keeping the fragile door closed
it just stood there in the middle of the forest 
as if it was made a secret


My young heart dropped once I looked inside
claws of birds laid resting on the floor 
rotting away like a banana peel
From these claws up high sat a magpie
he was black and white like a die 
as well he wore dipping red


Wanting to help so bad I was only pushed away
from father catching up behind 
I could have pushed the logs aside 
I could have dug underneath
I could have a least tried to remove the metal wires
but I didn't 
Instead I left the black and white bird to rot with the claws
I left the black and white bird where he doesn't belong
in the bird cage. 

Author's Note

Apologies to bird owners who might found this offensive, but its just my opinion on what hunters do to hunt.