8. Seabird

1. Up in the sky, with wings of light gray,
I watched as a seabird came floating my way.
He set on the sand, and shook off his flight,
Then moved down the beach, in morning’s first light.

2. He strutted around as if he were king.
He picked and he poked at a small wooden stick.
He’d fooled all the others with deception before,
The stick looked like food so he’d fool ‘em some more.

CHO Look all around, and soon you will see
A treasure’s not always where it looks to be.
If you let go, and seek out new ground,
A feast will await you, and those all around.

3. That seabird chased any bird that would dare
Come near his stick. It was his not to share.
A faux-food treasure with honeycomb holes.
It may not be real, but it’s his piece of gold.

CHO B The other birds wanted to share in his gain,
But the seabird’s mirage let none to attain.
One morsel of secrets he held in that beak.
They wandered away, to leave him in peace.

4. Then one gull began shrieking and chirping.
He jumped to the air, his discovery circling.
To show the whole flock where to look for some food,
Trumpeting loudly so all’d be included.

5. When all of those birds arrived at the spot,
The seabird came by now seeking his lot.
The others turned on him, and sent him away.
And followed the gull that shared in his prey.

6. False to himself, and the others around,
Protecting his status, no treasure he found.
A king without kindness, is a king on his own.
The one that can lead will inherit the throne.