poetry

Pepper

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

poetry

The Bunny Bus

The Bunny Bus

hop on up to the bunny bus
it’s a rainbow-colored ride
come along aboard with us
where everything’s tie-dyed

La-la will be your driver
and Franky’s her best mate
a twitchy nose behind the wheel
will make your vacation great

if you are feeling blue
or the highway’s got you stressed
just give their ears a stroke –
even softer than you’d guessed!

so which way’ll it be, son?
where should La-la head?
Up the hill to Haast?
or was it Wanaka you said?

either way she’s ready
her big hind foot’s a-tapping
and her whiskers are aquiver
(although Franky is still napping)

so wriggle on through
that little bunny door
that your worries just can’t fit through
you won’t need them anymore

‘cause with La-la at the wheel
and some carrots in your pocket
the good vibes are as electric
as your finger in a socket

now New Zealand rolls away
Southern Alps and ocean, too,
and if there’s any problem
it’s that the hours are too few

from one end of the South Island
all the way to the other –
now don’t forget to bring along
your mother, dad, and brother

there’s room for everyone
in this Technicolor dream
and, yum!, Franky’s passing round
scones with Devonshire cream

so come for tea and stay a week
the bunsters wave you in
cause on the rainbow bunny bus
we’re all like long-lost kin