This Bird

a poem by Roger B Rueda

doesn’t
chirrup,
chirp,
twitter,
or tweet,
or
ruffle
its feathers.

It's not
everything
I'd ever
want
in a pet –
bright,
funny
and
attractive.

It
faces
me
bravely
the way
I
fight
other birds
to the death.

I
think
I need
a rag doll.

I'm going to
doll
myself up
and
show
it off
to all
bird lovers
as they love
dolls
in the dark
more than
their pet birds.

I want
to see
a bird
fight with
my doll
this time.