Wild Birds Aren'T Really Free Poem by Juan Olivarez

One day it occurred to me,
That wild birds aren't really free.
While walking through the woods I spied,
A fallen dove that gently cried.

As I approached, down from a tree,
The parent doves flew right at me.
And fell to the ground feigning distress,
To lure me away from the baby and nest.

They flew very low as if in pain,
To see if my attention they could gain.
But I stopped and to the nest returned the dove,
That had violently fallen from above.

Then merrily I went my way,
Following the parents, who seemed to say.
Just one more step and you'll have us sure,
And I pretended to take the lure.

And right that minute it occurred to me,
That wild birds aren't really free.
They'll lay down their lives without thinking twice,
Instead of scattering to the skies.

And if birds care that much for their young,
Then the question reposing on my tongue,
Is, which species is more filled with love,
Human beings, or white winged doves.

2/19/11 Alton Texas