-- An Imagined Bird --

John Herlihy

I overheard two kids talking,

They make me feel blind.

They see things for the taking,

There in the depths of their mind.

Let’s invent something.

Sounds like a plan.

What should we invent?

I donno, something, anything.

Here’s two white marbles,

Black eyes with a splash of blue.

Give it a voice that warbles,

A song you never knew.

That rounded little head,

Hardly room for a brain.

Bush hair that never shed.

Isn’t this fun? Just insane.

For a mouth, give it a beak,

Sittin’ quiet between the eyes.

Feed it seeds, it looks weak,

It’s staring at us, looking wise.

Please, no arms or legs,

Just neatly folded wings.

Little feet rounded as pegs,

The bird such elegance brings.

Let me hold it in my hand,

Oh no, that will never do.

Close contact it cannot stand,

To fly freely is all it knew.

Let’s call it a blue bird,

We never heard of that before.

To sing the sweetest ever heard,

Of magic and mystery to implore.

The two children briefly listened,

Suddenly, unexpectedly they heard.

Their enchanted eyes glistened,

The song of their imagined bird.

Do not ever underestimate,

The power of a child’s mind.

In feeling free to simply create,

They see while others are blind.

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(c) John Herlihy 25 April 2020