by D.H. (Teacher)

You perch upon my finger
A poised bullet of down
Then off you go afluttering
And darting all around

If I could tie a ribbon
To a scaly little toe
It would ease my constant fretting
At your eagerness to go

Because you’re just not ready
Though your wings are growing strong
And I fear what would befall you
Were you gone from me too long

So a little ball of twine perhaps
If strung out like a kite
It would be long enough but still secure
And set my fears aright

One time you darted quick and fast
In wonder at the sky
Out the window and there was
No chance to say goodbye

So maybe then another kind
Of knot is what I need
Where loose ends can be all tied up
But you would still be free

There would be no tether then
To keep you from the sky
Just a bow of closure – thus –
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye