other people
seem to find
eagles hawks owls
noble birds of prey
birds of character and romance
who have broken wings
that they fix
and nurture
these great birds once again fly
making a last low pass over
those who nursed them back to flying status
before majestically soaring away to freedom

I found a pigeon
with a broken wing
a pellet embedded in the leading edge
of his right wing
rendering it not very aerodynamic
the wing droops
the vet says this pigeon will never fly
again
the vets says what with the dog and cats
hanging around
she wonders why the pigeon didn’t die from
heart attack
so this pigeon
whom I named Oscar
now lives in my dog’s kennel
a kennel with a roof
since my dog has taken over our house
she doesn’t need the kennel
in fact will have nothing to do with it
as if it is beneath her
it makes a good pigeon sanctuary
I feed Oscar everyday
make sure his water is fresh
and clean
he hides in the doghouse
inside the kennel
I get down on my knees
peer into the dimness of the doghouse
talk soothing to him
Oscar reacts as if I am
a pigeon’s worst nightmare
but
I reach in
put my hands gently around him
bring him out and
he coos
when I see Oscar walking around in the kennel
dragging is broken wing
maintaining a major attitude
I feel pretty good
Oscar should be content
a pigeon in the wild
with a broken wing doesn’t last long
Oscar is safe
safe from my three cats
one of which
likes to follow me into the kennel
to harass Oscar
Oscar should thank my dog
Maggie, a 70 pound Lab
Maggie is the one who found Oscar
and gently dropped him at my feet
Oscar’s lucky that Mr. Kitty
the cat
that follows me into the kennel
didn’t find him first
the instinct of life and love
is strong in Maggie
the instinct of
attack
is strong in Mr. Kitty
Oscar is now one fat cat pigeon
with a broken wing
ruling the roost
But
someday Oscar will lumber down that
pigeon runway
flapping that crooked wing
head held high
maintaining that pissy attitude
and just before Mr. Kitty
grabs onto his tail
Oscar lifts off
The Big ‘O’ makes a last low pass
over the kennel
over me
over Maggie and Mr. Kitty
he gives Mr. Kitty the finger
and soars majestically
into the cool evening air

post script
Oscar did heal enough to fly
his right wing drooped
but he flew
I went in the kennel one day
left the door open
Oscar lumbered out
took to the air
made a few passes and came back
then he flew out
landed on the roof
from there Oscar launched himself
sagged a little
gained altitude
and flew away for good
I miss Oscar