Overnight Guest (Poetry)

For a baby starling called Sid



What mischance had befallen him
we never got to know
a fledgling huddled in the grass
in need of rescue. So

we took him in — gave bed and board
researched his pressing need
and pulped some cat food — mixed it fine
but he refused to feed

So tricky forcing wide that beak
that should have wanted more
while we persisted he just grew
more stubborn than before

Then, at last, all wearied of
the whole frustrating fight
we caged and left him safe from harm
and wished him a good night

The birds outside were chirping loud
next morning when we woke
yet not a sound from our small guest
not one protesting croak

A heap of feathers on the floor
claws curled around thin air
he hadn’t made it through the night
for death had found him there

He’s in the forest now — beneath
a sympathetic tree
we laid him there and said goodbye —
no charge for B&B