A pretty li’l parrot with wide open eyes

All on a sudden to our great surprise

Came crashing down from the carob tree

Fell head down, too queer to verbalize.                                              

Father, full of pity rushed to his rescue,

Filled with anxiety, seeing his limbs askew. 

Scampered all of us three to his side to see

How he fell and why, but wasn’t there a cue.                    

Brought into the house to our great glee

But mother not too pleased or pitied to see,

Bald little birdie seated brightly on her settee

Bothersome! pretty sure could she foresee.

A great brave survivor he did prove to be

Loved to be in cage than distant and free.

Clever to smell peril in the form of our pussie,

A wee bit different from Sylvester and Tweetie.

Bothered were we to see mother’s indifference

We kept him away from her out of deference.

Yet, to think of, we could say with confidence

Right beside him, work required her presence.

Greenie and his cage near, mother too busy

Turned a careless eye to see, the refugee.

Found him too skinny and the cage not cosy

Gifted a cage, fed him carrots and candy.

Our best and trusted friend he grew to be 

Could he fathom, with eyes staring, could he

Our childish worries, fears making life murky?

He could. Mystery uncovered, gave he the key.

Parents away on a dark and rainy night,

We had a huff and tiff, pussie hid in fright.

Greenie called out in mother’s voice bright,

Give me peace, please don’t fight.

And that wasn’t of course the last word

Time and again his mimicry was heard.

There were some whom he never loved

With a hostile look fluttered screeched aloud.

Outlived the pussie to live a decade and five

Watched people talking, on the sly,

Ever was he ready with words in good supply,

Often pleased himself by whistling for reply.

Staring eyes closed and we buried him in the yard,

Thoughts incise and memories die hard.

My pet, my love, I owe you a ballad,

I know you stare at me when I look heavenward.