I tried to catch a falling raindrop. Instead a

black bird landed on my tongue.

I knew that he was bad luck.

Stammering, his voice was changing,

when he asked me to come along.

“Where, is it that you wish to take me”?

I inquired uncomfortably. His response:

“Just over to the green meadow near the trees”

Replying “Ah, the meadow, yes, yes,

I’d like to go”, with the rain subsiding

he flew off my tongue.

Trying to keep up was tricky. Soon

he became a black dot in a vast sky.

Follow, I must. Something beckoned and

Curiosity is my name.

Arriving was sweet…

Butterflies and fairies,

were dancing through the trees. The

scent of flowers wafted universally.

There were toads on lily pads lazily

adrift. Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit

was their croaking,

a sacred lullaby.

Approaching my view was a tiny man:

a crooked three cornered hat, atop his head,

brown knee length pants,

vest snug at his waist, pointy shoes and

decorative digits covered in gems.

He clutched a bag with an emerald drawstring.

Treasures and pleasures were sure to be within.

He asked “Surely you know what’s inside”?

I couldn’t help but notice how his sparkles

blinded and lured at the same time.

“Of course I do, let’s unwrap your goodie-bag”.

Fingers shaking, animation domination

and a

feeling of dread.

I pulled the cord; the container fell, revealing all.

I glanced at the man and saw the sneer on

his distorted face. Fixed canary eyes looked

at me, as the goblins flew passed my face.

I hadn’t noticed the pointed teeth,

due to his blinding light. Or the

smell of sulphur that reeked from every pore.

The black bird had cleverly placed

A spell on my senses,

the day that he landed on

My tongue.

If ever a black bird

invites you to a land of greenery,

run, reject, refuse him.

Send him back from whence he came.

To lands unknown, dryness,

darkness, the abyss or

I’ll meet you there,

among the deceived.

Sept. 10, 2002

©2002 Janet Caldwell