The Cardinal and The Hawk

Said the cardinal to the hawk, when his shadow passed o’erhead,

“I’m but a lowly cardinal, I wish not to be dead.

“Dear hawk,” said he, “I have a broken wing,

There’s no way I can escape, no where for me to flee

“I cannot reach my kind, my voice isn’t that strong

“I can’t let my family know that something has gone wrong.

“I see you gliding on the wind, looking all around,

“And I’m almost certain you spotted me lying here on the ground

“Please, dear hawk, I ask you pass me by, because as I said a moment ago, I do not wish to die “

Said the hawk to the cardinal, on hearing this little prayer;

“My brother, fellow avian, what are you doing down there?”

“The morning breeze beneath me, I ride into the sky,

“And then, from somewhere down below, I heard your fearful prayer.

“You do not wish to die, but even still, fact of the matter is, I don’t wish to kill.

“While that is what I am, you see I’ve made a choice,

“Not from instinct, but for care, do I respond to your voice.

“I see your wing is broken, I know you cannot fly

“So I will be your wings, to soar upon the sky.

“There is no need to fear me,” as he gently touched down,

“Climb on my back, little friend, I’ll carry you with me.”

And so it was, from that day on, they were the best of friends.

Sharing countless adventures, soaring to new heights, and neither one looking back, on the day of the cardinals plight.