She peeked around the corner
To see what she had heard
Lying on the concrete
There was a little bird
She looked for a nest
But one could not be found
The little bird was orphaned
She lifted it from the ground
She held it high above her head
Like a worshiped thing
Then she cupped her hands around it
Hoping the bird would sing
She whispered something to herself
And smiled at the bird
Her two front teeth were missing
So her smile looked quite absurd
Her hair was braided in pig tails
With ribbons on the ends
She sat alone on a milk crate
Because she had no friends
She rubbed the little body
Until the bird squirmed about
It beeped and cheeped an cried
And gaped its tiny mouth
The little bird was hungry
While it lolled in her hand
The girl got quite frantic
She did not understand
Like a little mother
Sang a lullaby
Praying for the manna
Of some unknown passer-by
She felt the cashmere feathers
Upon her dimpled chin
She caught distraught glances
From some business men
Yet again she whispered
“I’m going to stop your hurt”
She loved that bird so much
The blood ran down her shirt
She cried a few little tears
Then laid the bird at her feet
She wanted to stop her own hurt
So she ran into the street