Masquerade for Writer's Island

Rob at Writer's Island offers this image for inspiration:

I always hated that damn bird.
And he hated me.
But I couldn't let my daughter know.

So, I fed him and cleaned his cage
and cooed and petted
but when we were alone

my mask came off and I'd glare
at him. “Stay right where you are,
buddy, and don't even think

of climbing onto my shoulder.”
He'd turn his head and hiss at me.
Then go back to preening

his snowy feathers, those same feathers
I'd stepped on one morning. The vet
said no bones were broken

but Flip stayed huddled in his cage
for a week giving me the evil eye.
I smiled beneath my mask.

Flip the Bird

Totally Optional Prompt for November 29th

I had a hard time with this prompt. I rarely write about animals; somehow, they just don't resonate with me. Finally, today, while my students were journal writing, I came up with this one. Anyway, for what it's worth...
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Flip the Bird

I’m the bird
you stepped
on one
morning.

Was it my fault
you clipped
my wings
so I had to walk

everywhere?
It was morning,
time to get up
and open

the curtains
and where
were you?
In bed.

I was on my way
to wake
you up
but the doorbell

beat me to it
and when you
jumped
out of bed,

your foot
landed
right on my back.
Sure, I hissed

at you
every time
you came
near me

after that.
Do you blame
me? You’d
be upset, too,

if someone
not only hurt you,
but took away your
ability to fly.

What if someone
took your pens and papers
away
and you couldn’t

write anymore?
You’d hiss
at the world,
too.