pidgeon

perhaps it had
broken its legs
or its wings somehow.

on the lush grass it sat
eyes closed as if in
rest or pain-

snapped open in a second
at the death tread
my heavy new school shoes
& their stench of blacking

fear was there
i knew fear.

it tried to move-
awkwardly shuffling along
bird-snake
its feathered chest beating
heaving in oxygen

i was faster.

little outcast fingers
stroked its neck
smiled at power
& closed around it

saw its breath catch
in realisation
recognition
it looked me in the eye-

i let it go,
of course i let it go