By Loretta Briscoe-Mize,

Cape Girardeau

I captured a bird, today, today,

I captured a bird, Hooray! Hooray!

I brought him inside where he took to the air,

I covered my head as he sped past the chair.

He flew in the cornbread that Grandma was makin'

She screamed, "Get that bird away from my bakin'"

His feathers flew out all over the place,

A bird in the kitchen what a disgrace!

He huddled in fright behind a crock jar

But Gran wasn't happy, no, no, not by far.

She flung a wet dishtowel right over his head

I thought for a moment that poor bird was dead.

"Here! Take him away! Get him out of my sight!

A bird in the kitchen just isn't right!"

I dashed out the door, my feet seemed to fly;

Bird fluttered his wings and blinked his black eye.

By a thin whisker we'd escaped Grandma's wrath,

I figured we'd better stay clear of her path.

My decision was made, the choices were few;

I knew in an instant what I must do.

I set my bird free, today, today,

Grandma just shouted, "Hooray! Hooray!