Pride in feathers

Chapter 1

Once upon a time on a farm far away

a group of friends lived there and stayed

Rabbits, birds, sheep and strays

lived in harmony, sharing meat and hay

Chapter 2

And ever so often, they gathered around

An old tree, where answers were found

Sharing old tales , legends and lore

About a wise bird, a story they adore

With ashy feathers and a guarding eye

He watches over them day and night

Chapter 3

And among the birds was a peculiar one

With long, beautiful feathers similar to none

Colored in gold, blue and green

Bello, the prettiest bird one had ever seen

With so much pride he spreads his tail

To show anyone who walked his trail

Chapter 4

As he roams the ground, he pays no mind

To those who needed a favor or just wanted to be kind

When a neighbor would say, " How do you do?”

he’d look arrogantly saying , " Who are you ?!”

Chapter 5

With no regard, to old or child

Always strutting the grounds so full of pride

Having no respect, only bad behavior

his life in the village was like a stranger

Chapter 6

No friend to talk to , not a brother or sister

Always alone, oh the poor mister

Chapter 7

You see… he couldn’t clean, hunt, or cook

Though he read every little book

And on his stroll he heard a growl

It’s his stomach hungry and loud

Chapter 8

From far away a sheep waved hi

“We’re having a party, won’t you stop by ?”

Bello looked at him with an arrogant eye

“Come along now ..we even got pie !!”

Chapter 9

Flicking his feathers and laughing away

Bello replied “pie you say ?!. "

“You’re just a sheep !, all you eat is hay.”

The poor sheep was so disappointed!

Such rude behavior, he never expected!

Chapter 10

The hurt in his eyes was clear to see

“you didn’t have to be so mean to me! "

Rejecting the sheep’s kindness

Bello scoffs in highness

But soon enough he will know

We always reap what we sow …

Chapter 11

He walked around, hungrier than before

No food in sight, no berries on the floor

With each step he took, he closed his eyes

Smelling for food, under the open skies

His stomach churned, his energy drained

And on his walk fell a drop of rain

Chapter 12

He saw a tree and rushed for shelter

Panicking like there’s a monster

“No rain will ruin my beautiful feather! "

“Not today, not tomorrow, not EVER "

Chapter 13

With a sigh , feeling much better

The sun came out and cleared the weather

“thank god the rain was brief "

Said Bello in relief

Chapter 14

He heard a hoot then a rustling sound

Like someone was walking around

He searched left, right up and down

As a Rabbit appeared from the ground

He didn’t notice the hole beneath the tree

The house of Mr. Rabbit and his family

Chapter 15

They were laughing in delight

As they gathered for the night

The smell of bread and carrot stew

Filled the air … and before he knew

Mr. Rabbit came into view ….

Chapter 16

“Oh, who do we have here ?”

Said Mr. Rabbit coming near

“What a wondrous sight to see

A bird like you, by my chimney”

Bello blushed, caught off guard

Fumbling for words, stuttering hard

Chapter 17

“I…i am doing n-nothing! , Rabbit "

“S-Spying is n-not my habit "

Mr.rabbit seemed a bit too amused

As Bello fumbled for words to use

Chapter 18

“Then say no more , you are my guest "

Said the rabbit puffing his chest

“We’ve got bread and carrot stew "

“Isn’t it a fine meal for a bird like you ?”

Chapter 19

Still a little shy the bird replied

With a clumsy act and a puff of pride

“Carrot and bread ? " the bird then mocked

“Hunger is better than what you’ve stocked .”

Chapter 20

The rabbit smiled and gazed ahead

“This pride of yours wont get you fed "

“A day will come when you regret "

“The kindness you chose to forget”

Chapter 21

Bello just scoffed and walked away

Letting his pride lead him astray

Chapter 22

With the rabbit’s words still in mind

The bird marched as he denied

“I am not a bird of arrogance and pride !”

“I am just better than all of ‘em combined "

Chapter 23

With that belief , Bello kept roaming

His tiredness and hunger still growing

For now , his wish is just to find

Food ,comfort and peace of mind

Chapter 24

A voice inside him started to talk

Growing more the longer the walk

“Was i always in the wrong ?”

“Has it been my fault all along ?”

Chapter 25

The pretty Bello started to wonder

“What would change if I act kinder ?”

In these questions, perhaps he’ll see

That only with kindness, happiness will be ….

Chapter 26

He walked and walked till he reached

The vast field far in the east

And at its center was a giant tree

Where the wise owl was said to be

A magical ground, where truth is shown

To the one who’s path is still unknown

Chapter 27

Bello tried to leave you see,

But had no strength in his knee

Poor Bello dropped on the grass

All his energy drained at last

And the sleepier he got

The Clearer became his thought

Chapter 28

“I wish i took the sheep’s invite”

Bello thought in his mind

“Such foolish words i have said! "

“When i LOVE carrot stew and bread "

“Oooh, how i regret”

“Chasing my pride instead "

Chapter 29

Drifting to sleep, he could hear

Wings fluttering somewhere near

Chapter 30

“Have no worries, my dear !

Its alright, you’re safe here "

“Who are you?….

Where is here ?”

Said Bello in utter fear

Chapter 31

“I heard your call, and came to see

I found you crumbled near my tree "

“Wait a minute … this can’t be ?!

YOU’RE the wise one up the tree !

The bird with more stories told

Than all kings and legends of old "

Chapter 32

With a soft chuckle the owl said

“Have faith, there is hope ahead

Look inside you and you’ll find

All the courage to be kind "

Chapter 33

Lost for words , gazing in awe

His vision blurred into fog

Reaching in hope to stay in place

Bello lost balance and fell in space

Chapter 34

He woke up in a beautiful scene

Of a grand party — so it seems

Where everyone gathered that night

Celebrating , cheerful and bright

The sound of laughter, the smell of stew

Filled him with warmth - surreal, yet true

Chapter 35

What a beautiful dream “He mumbled

Such beauty, it left him humbled

He looked around the room for a clue

A sign to tell him it was true

Chapter 36

He saw the owl standing by the bed

He wanted to call, but blinked instead

He opened his eyes ,and the owl was gone

True to the legends that were passed on

Chapter 37

Then he noticed the sheep he’d met before

Sitting near by, on the floor

Was it just a mirage ? a wishful fantasy?

Was he safe from hunger’s cruelty?

Chapter 38

“We brought you here in a hurry

You’re safe now , so don’t you worry”

Confused and flustered, the bird then asked

" I’m not dreaming ?! “, the sheep just laughed

Chapter 39

“If you are, then you must really like me within- "

“After all, dreams are sweet wishes we keep hidden "

Chapter 40

When he met his gaze the sheep then offered

A piece of pie still warm and covered

“I saved one for you in case you came "

“Have a bite !, this is yours to claim "

Chapter 41

Crossing his wings , breaking his gaze

Bello looked down , shame filling his face

“But i met your kindness with disdain

Why are you so nice to me ?

When you have nothing to gain "

Chapter 42

The sheep chuckled and said softly

“When i was a young lamb -timid and lonely

I couldn’t make friends ,and withered slowly "

Bello was startled to say the least

“You !! … with no friends to greet ?”

Chapter 43

The sheep replied “believe it or not "

Back then, i didn’t have the gut "

“But then i had a dream of this wise bird -

An owl with words I had never heard

Chapter 44

With Grey feathers and round gentle eyes

That read my thoughts before i realized

He said “Have courage and be kind,

That’s where happiness resides "

Chapter 45

Bello stared at him in complete awe

Remembering the kindness he once saw

“I never thought that you understood me

How I felt, or that you were once like me”

Chapter 46

Bello smiled in apology then said

“Thank you for helping me, I’m in your debt "

The sheep patted his shoulder and replied

“Not me, Ti’s the kindness of everyone combined ….

Chapter 47

Mr Rabbit was the one who spoke

Of a bird that was out in the cold "

Bello looked around, taking in the view

Of all this happiness he yearned to know

Chapter 48

As his eyes met another pair

Mr Rabbit waved in the air

Copying the rabbit, he waved his feathered wing

And smiled, not knowing what he was doing

Chapter 49

The sheep watched him with a gentle smile

“It’s good to see you like this every once in a while "

Chapter 50

On his feet, Bello headed to where

Laughter and joy was filling the air

Chapter 51

Everyone noticed him, as he entered the room

The silence was deafening, like a quiet lagoon

Chapter 52

As Bello took a breath and released

He started to feel more at ease

Chapter 53

“I…i have something to say " he said with care

He kept talking as he felt them stare

Chapter 54

“I know I’m not your favorite bird in the farm

And i also realize that I’ve brought you all some harm”

Chapter 55

He stopped talking and lifted his head

And found hesitant stares instead

But nonetheless he kept going

Hoping his sincerity is showing

“Thank you all for coming to my aid

I promise your kindness will be repaid "

Chapter 56

“And I am truly very sorry” , he apologized

Feeling the tears filling his eyes

“I realize my actions were unforgivable

And i promise l’ll learn how to be humble”

Chapter 57

“I’ll build my courage, I’ll learn to be kind ….

So I can find the happiness I left behind "

For a moment, Bello thought he was alone

Not a sound was heard, not a single tone

Chapter 58

But suddenly, the room grew wild

With every animal, and their child

Cheering, clapping, not one of them tired

Chapter 59

For Bello who was once so proud

Has now joined them as part of the crowd

They shook his hand and so did he

Smiling, his heart filling with glee

Chapter 60

He went to the rabbit and started a new

Telling him he likes bread and carrot stew

And now, Bello was laughing in delight

As kindness filled the night

Chapter 61

And so came the morning on a farm far away

Where everyone was up to start the day

Rabbits, birds, sheep and strays

All with a feather on their doorway

Chapter 62

A feather with colors so divine

Carrying a bird’s effort and a promise to be kind

…………………The end ………………..