I wish to be like a bird
never a dog

I wish not to be like a dog
Chasing chasing
Furiously gulping water
Never pausing to thank

A virtue to obediently
Sit
Roll over
Hush
Bad boy
Good boy

I wish not to have my name
Engraved by a stranger
Never to be asked
What I would like
the dangling metal to read

I wish not to be naive nor submissive
Always looking
never observing

I wish not.

I wish,

I wish to be like a bird
Sitting sitting
Patiently drinking
And frequently thanking

What a virtue it is
To not disturb a bird
Lest they leave
Every second in their company
More precious than the last

I wish to be named
For what I present
Which colors I show
And to whom

I wish to be a kind creature
Who builds a nest
with what is found
Patiently yearning
For completion

I wish to be
Despite the shaking of trees
Or the worms
nestled in the dirt
Unable to be uncovered

I wish to be

In spite of the dogs
Who’s barking
although loud or long
Cannot compete
with a bird’s gentle song