On Rescuing An Injured Pigeon

ON RESCUING AN INJURED PIGEON I. sliding screen door screeches, pigeons scatter thump of wing against breast, shockwave breeze more frequent than in the past, shimmering necks soundtrack squirrel zig-zags, new-green lawn perches like the pigeons, await my departure II. he appeared in the night, a tattered statue grey as the rumbling skies, white patch on his back must be hurt, too painful to move, teal collar my compassion swells, how can I help? leave him seed and water, natural healing III. red-toed demon leaving bird-turd on my deck can barely walk let alone fly away, railing perch rain or sun sits most of the day, ruffled feathers hit his head or fallen, maybe a scuffle with a cat wants to be part of a flock, I move closer IV. day three I made him a coop, Bucky by name Becky if it’s a girl, I’m not checkin’, won’t go in moving better, flies a little, short bursts still prefers my perch, watch him sleep, still hours to days, nothing seems to change V. the four-legged’s have found the coop and feed I become my grandmother chasing chipmunks, futile Bucky likes grass, hacksaw walk, double-banded looks strong enough to fly, abandoned racer wonder, is it psychological or could it me? VI. trail of seeds brought him to the edge, coop and me as I watch him he watches me, wide ruddy eyes huddles in a ball on one foot, freckled vest finally, twice today he found his way to the coop sad he can’t go home, sheltered but dispossessed. VII. animal rescuer Howard came with a net today tried clumsily to catch him, lift and accelerate over the treetops he flew, circled back to land from the rooftop he smiled down at us, relieved proof time heals all wounds, in rock pigeon world. Aug 30/18