My sister became a parakeet br I would go to my daughters house br and see her clinging on the screen br of the front window and screeching br to other birds in an old Maple tree. br br Her wings would spread and br would extend far outward, br her reflection in that window br br Outside, a morning dove, my brother br would urge her to come and fly, br the racoon sleeping under the bushes, br my other brother, would laugh br ' No.'she would answer in a screech. br br The blue of her wings were like the sky br the tips unclipped, had grown, and there br was nothing to stop her from leaving. br br I heard the birds singing from across the br street...and watched the parakeet sit beside br the black and white cat above the couch. br The bird named my sister...'a bad dream br is all it is, she told the cat. br br I wanted to open the window and let br her fly away with the Morning doves br And only the moon and stars would know br my secret.