Today in my yard a mynah bird
Calls its characteristic chirp
From up in the mango tree
I don’t see them displayed in cages
Confined and trained
At restaurants and stores anymore
The way I remember from small kid time
This one was never caught
And taught to talk
But has lived free
Or if it was caged
This one escaped
And is no longer required
To recite lines like
Pretty Bird, Pretty Bird, awk!
Provoked to speak by gawkers
It examines me
Head cocked to one side
A single black eye scrutinizing
Maybe it’s waiting for me to speak
So I say hello
Then watch this pretty bird fly away
Lanning Lee 