The castle was seized and so was the queen
At the gates was a horror scene
Limbs and valour of ten thousand men
Mixed with dirt of the land
The throne was broke and so was the pride
All the courage was lost inside
There seemed to be no hope just right then
The roaring skies had other plans
The clouds were grey but with a silver line
A mighty bird began to shine
Flapping her wings, she brought out fears
Buried deep for five hundred years
Tell everyone. Go and make a call
The saviour has come after all

Now as a gust of wind she flew
To all the places she hadn’t been to
O’er the hills and beyond the seas
In the gardens amongst the bees
She held no fear now in her heart
No memory with her of her previous start
Gliding along wherever she was led
Happy thoughts only in her head
One such time she was led to
A familiar tree known to me and you
An old bird lay with fever in her head
Her man was there beside her dying bed
Seeing her plight she was distressed
A chord in her heart was duly addressed
She went close to the old bird’s nest
And lingered awhile around her breast
Of her she dived straight inside
To be with the old bird’s dying side
Then the moment came too fast
It was the air she breathed last
And both lay quiet on that tree
Forever known to you and me

The little bird was summoned
To be sent back down on earth again
This time in another form
But on the same frightening land
This time she would fly
Yes there would be no excuse at all
Though no wings upon her
No legs, no memory or fear of fall
She’d have changed a lot
Though the world would still be there
Born in the atmosphere
A gust of wind, sometimes a current of air

God came down Himself
To fetch her little soul
Her time on earth was up
Now’s time to pay the toll
He carried her away
Beyond the open skies
While her mother oblivious
Heavy tears in her eyes
She sat on God’s shoulders
As they sailed heavenwards
Where there was a special
Place for all the birds
When He opened up the gates
She was stunned to see
All sorts of birds therein
The young and old and free
Green parrots and blue pigeons
Black crows and vultures all
Yellow, red and pink and grey
The young and old and small
God said, “Enjoy yourself
Keep yourself well warm
I’ll be sending you back
Again in another form
Your work on earth is pending
There is still more to you
Prepare yourself again
A dying soul may need you”

Born with pretty wings
Birds are made to fly
There they build their homes
In the open sky
Fate’s written for everyone
Some end up in cages
Of their brutal masters
For their pending wages
Others end up in chains
Chained to the open sky
What good’s an open world?
We live well just to die

“Mother, I am sorry,” spoke the little bird
As she continued to struggle with her words
Her body was aching, weaker than before
She knew that now she couldn’t hold out anymore
“It must break your heart to see me disobey
Yet it’s not because I love you less today
I love you as much today as I loved you before
And I’ll always love you, of that you can be sure
Though my loving hours now are few and far between
I know that for a fact for Death just I have seen
Like all the birds out there who fly away and sing
I will do the same tonight but on deathly wings
And on those very wings, I will feel the sky
Laugh it off when they call me ‘The bird who refused to fly’

The mother bird returned
Back to her mourning nest
“My darlin’,” she informed
“It is just a test
Muster up some courage
Spread your wings and fly
Even though you’re feeling sick
You must touch the sky
Then all of your sickness
Will vanish and be gone
And you’d find the best of health
Like a baby born
So show your dad and mom
Just how good you can be
Fly out into the clouds
As far as I can see
Here let me get you up
There would be no harm
If you were to fall
I’d catch you in my arms”
…
“I’m sorry,” spoke the little bird
“Just leave me here to die
Mother, you won’t understand
I’m just not born to fly”

The court was in session
When the mother bird stormed in
All were startled and stunned
But the owl gave a grin
…
“You were supposed to help her”
The mother bird cried out loud
“Look at just what she’s become
I hope you’re feeling proud”
…
“Don’t you be blaming me”
Was the owl’s curt reply
“Your daughter’s paying the price
Karma, I can’t deny”
…
“How so very foolish of me”
The mother bird then spoke
“To expect a little help from you
Isn’t more than a joke
I will take my leave now
Return to my daughter’s bed
Though my hopes are crushed
None of them are dead”
…
“There is one thing however”
The owl spoke at last
“If your daughter’s willing
The curse can be surpassed
With mighty odds against her
She must now learn to fly
On her own if she wants
To bid the curse goodbye”

Next morn’ when her mother awoke
The little bird was still in bed
Her father wore a cozy cloak
Winter had popped its head
A few insignificant hours passed
The little bird was still in bed
The mother checked the bird at last
Found fever had reached her head
The little bird could barely move
She never had felt so weak
Her dire state only went to prove
The curse from the owl’s beak
The little bird still lay in bed
And nothing was going well
Her wings she could barely spread
Her body was hot as hell
Though her mother tried all tricks
All treatment seemed in vain
The little bird was lying sick
Writhing there in pain
Her mother looked up in agitation
At the heavens above
“What wrong has my daughter done
To treat her with such love?
Have you no answer to give me?
You who rein the skies
Come on now to the banyan tree
Witness a mother’s cries”

Atop the banyan tree
Where the warm winds blow
Sat the wise owl
With the masses below
Now the little bird
And her worried mother
Were in the owl’s presence
With all the other
Birds that had come
Present in the courtyard
To watch the wise owl
With utmost regard
…
The parrot wrote the minutes
Pigeons lit incense
Cuckoos gave a call for
The session to commence
“Well, my daughter here”
Spoke the mother with some hope
“Is afraid to fly I guess
Though it’s in her scope
No sooner has my daughter
Flown a little height
She comes back down on land
With a mighty fright”
…
“It is a peculiar case”
The wise owl did reply
“I’ve never met a bird before
Who’s afriad to fly
But all is not lost
You’ve come to the right place
Leave your daughter with me
I will solve this case”
Just as he spoke those words
The little bird burst out loud
She couldn’t hold back herself
Her guffaws reached the clouds
…
The courtyard was stunned
The parrot dropped his quill
The owl was wide-eyed
The others were all still
“I am sorry for all this”
Said the little bird
“I never meant to laugh this way
At your owlish words
It is just that I
Didn’t picture you like this
The setting seems amusing
I just couldn’t resist”
…
“Well well well”
The wise owl spoke in rage
“You’re not short on bravery
For a bird your age
You come to my courtyard
Mock me and my words
In front of your mother
And all the other birds
You don’t need my help
You may go your way
I hope you have the same humour
When troubles come your way”