TheBanyanTree: A CAPTIVE BIRD

[smack58 at nycap.rr.com]

This is probably still a little rough as it is new.  So have it.  I will be glad of any thoughts you all might have. (Also: This really happened.)

A CAPTIVE BIRD

I heard the high pitched tweet
Almost as a scream
In early morning’s hush
And found the small bird
At the end of the walkway
Backed against the wall
Fluttering
Frightened
Not able to find
His way out.

I set my bundles down
And moved slowly
Speaking softly
His tweets became
Twits 
And then…
Silence.

I scooped him gently
Into my hands and
Felt the small
Fast heartbeats.
I remembered the words
To an old song,
…like the trembling heart
Of a captive bird
That was there at my command…

I walked to the opened end
And lifted my hands to the wind
My fingers parted, 
He looked at me with
One eye
Cocked his head twice,

A tweet
And he was gone—