Pigeon

I don’t want to read about sick mums or dads,

or families getting separated or dying in wars. 

I want to hear of funny stuff, like the time

a pigeon got caught in our classroom and couldn’t 

escape, its wings flapping wildly, its little feet

hopping from desk to floor to desk. Miss let out

a sudden shriek, and then the whole class

was at it, squawking and hooting and howling

with joy, until Miss sent me to go and get

two bigger boys to help the sorry pigeon on its way.

I told my mum all this when I got home

and, through the dark, the smile lit up her face.

Joshua Seigal