Leaving the Nest

 

There once was a blue bird that lived in a tree up high.
Every morning, he sighed and wished he could fly.

He stared down at the other birds, always catching the worms.

He claimed he was too busy, but he had other concerns.
 

You see, this little bird was afraid of heights.

And if the other birds knew, oh what a delight.

They would laugh and taunt him, day in and day out.

The thought drove him mad, he wanted to shout!
 

"I can do it!" he thought. "I can fly!" he'd say.

He talked himself up, he'd have a worm the next day!

 

In the next morning's light, he stood on the edge of his nest.
He spread his shaking wings and puffed up his chest.
 

He fell through the air, soaring fast to the ground.

When the fear had him frozen, unable to rebound.
 

He landed with a thud, in the middle of the meal.

The other birds carried on, one less bird to deal!

 

-H.C. Herman