Bird In A Laboratory

She is vegan, defender of wildlife.

She is awesome to me.

But, this place is not a home.

It's a laboratory.

A cleanroom -

sterile and barren.

She cleans and cleans and cleans,

but can't seem to erase the memory

of some Great Sorrow. (I could feel it)

She tries so hard

to be precise,

to be scientific -

but there is no textbook on pain.

No culinary technique

or magic recipe

to conjure the medicine

she needs.

I reached out to her -

not with my arms,

but with my silence and compassion.

"Show me the Great Sorrow", I said.

I offered her an open door.

She hesitated.

Then closed the door methodically.

"It's cold" she said,

"and it's time to eat."

I ate and left.

I dearly wanted to take her pain away,

but she wanted it all for herself.

Maybe it's a comfort thing?

I still carry some of her sadness in me.

I hope you find your wings some day, Skylark

and get to sing in that open sky again -

where you belong! :)

Reviews

[LA Lorena]

sometimes birds that have lived so long with clipped wings cease trying to fly, even if their tail feathers are allowed to grow back. perhaps they don't remember how?

[C.R.Turner]

:(