To my new friend. The One-Legged Pigeon whom I had the privilege of meeting at the Subway station

i met a pigeon on the platform, hopping on one leg,

waiting for the 5:00 train, a sight to make you smile.

Feathers ruffled, beak held high, a real city bird,

balancing on the edge of life, undeterred, unheard.

"Hey there, friend," i said with a grin, "i saw you the other day, what brings you here again today?"

He cocked his head and gave me a coo, as if he had to say:

"In this world of busy and bustling feet, I find my strength in the hop, for life is but a waiting game and Never!! Do I Stop."

He pecked at some crumbs just under the chair(almost like the station pays some sort of fare) and puffed his chest with pride,

a warrior of the urban sprawl, with nowhere left to hide.

"You see," he cooed, "this missing leg, it keeps me on my toes, reminds me that in every loss, a hidden strength just grows."

And as trains rushed by and people stared, he didn't much seem to care,

he said “for in one-legged wisdom, I found solace everywhere. I wait for nothing and yet I live, in every moment's beat, for life’s a subway ride my friend, with stops and empty seats."

i watched him dance around almost with courage in his stride,

a lesson in his simple grace, i couldn't help but bide.

For in that subway's clamor, among the grime and haste,

i saw the truth in pigeon form, that life is not a race.

We parted our ways that pigeon and i,

on separate trains we may go.

But i know in my heart, his little hopping tune continues to play on repeat like your favorite show.

If you find yourself hopping, on one cute little leg, (please, please don’t stop)

i hope you find the strength to hop on, with hope in every hop.