Pepper
he always seems to be smiling
large brown eyes curious and calm
beak mostly quiet
as if he has one eyebrow arched
wondering what off-base thing
we might do next
even when he was way up in the aviary
high enough to believe he was the boss
he willingly came to us
amazing
Would you like to be part of our family?
I ask
not sure what yes looks like
a few weeks ago he flew down out of the sky
to another family who couldn’t take him
as if asking for
some warm humans
to love him and keep him safe
I hope that’s us
that we’re worth falling from heaven for
