the bird wouldn't sing

the bird
wouldn't sing
for her as it
clutched
her thumb
rattling it's
jungle green
plumage. it
never mimicked
her words.
no, hello sweetie.
hello.
it liked to bite.
instead
and caw
and caw
and caw.
the only way
to silence
it was by throwing
a blanket onto
the cage
to make it dark
but then there
was the cat too
who owned
the patience
of centuries
of being a cat.