Perched beside the ocean in a tree set way up high,
Sat a nest, held strong in branches, with four baby chicks inside.
The mother bird was very near with food to satisfy
The little chicks grew bigger as each sunny day went by.
—
She gave her babies lessons,
She taught them wrong from right
Then one day she had noticed
It was time to take their flight.
—
They had some practice take-offs
And flapped their brand new feathers
One by one they had become
Well versed in all their measures.
—
And then the day arrived
When the little ones should fly.
She knew it must be done
But mother bird still had a cry.
—
“Just remember You’ve been given everything you need to fly.
You’ve got feathers, wings, direction and you’ve even got good eyes.
Your landing gear is working and your tail sits nice and high,
So go on now and spread your wings
Soar up and reach the sky.”
—
One little bird arranged his feathers,
lifted up his chin,
He climbed up on the straw nest-edge
And gave his Mum a grin.
—
He summoned all his courage
Suppressed those butterflies
Took one more step, held his breath
And then he shut his eyes.
—
The breeze swept up and caught his wings
The bird was quite surprised,
It balanced and supported him
It took him through the sky.
—
Across the town, across the school
Across the meadows green
He saw the blue horizon
How the sun made waters gleam.
—
The little bird grew tired and began to feel alone
Very soon he swirled around and headed on back home
And when he saw his tree beside the ocean way up high
He found his nest and came to rest, and waved the breeze ‘goodbye’.
—
“Oh mother bird, we had such fun, the breeze, the sky and I.
I’m glad you taught me very well, I’m glad that I can fly.”
—
(c) Rebecca Moore 2013
First published for the Good Life magazine Spring 2013
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