written By
I let the chickens out
to run free in the field
and saw a cardinal trapped
inside the coop I built myself
from wooden posts painted green
and hexagonal wire of lighter gauge.
She flew fearfully from mesh to mesh
crashing into the fence then tumbling back
and didn’t see the open door.
There was an escape route,
but she didn’t take notice.
I talked to her, “Look, the door is open.
You only need to fly out.”
But she continued to smash her wings
against the netting without pause.
