Goddess called a contest
for most Exemplary Bird
to represent all types.
Not a peep was heard
How and why would Goddess
ever do such a thing?
As each bird is exemplary
With or without their sing.
How could she choose
which one of them all was the best
to choose a purple, blue, or green
over an orange chest?
A warble over a tweet?
A swoop over a flutter?
A hooting over a sweet?
A nester over a hutter?
The Birds, they called a Congress,
which led them to Consensus.
They decided to Call Out the Goddess.
They flew to Goddess Palace.
Those who couldn’t fly hitched rides.
They’d prepared a kaleidoscopic choreography,
with an arrangement to rival the Celestial Choir.
Goddess sat on her prismacrystal throne
and commanded her heavenly guards
to allow her guests entry.
It took awhile
for the living rainbow
to place itself just so.
Singers took a collective breath, then began to sing.
The dancers began strutting and fluttering.
Swoopers swooped and swimmers swam
in the royal fountain near the throne.
The Heavens had never seen,
nor heard the likes of
that day’s performance.
The Heavenly Choir was taking notes.
Goddess sat, silently,
her expression bland,
until the last note, flutter, strut,
swoop, and swim had been
sung, fluttered, strutted,
swooped, and swum across
the Celestial Aura.
Hummingbird, penguin, and robin
approached the foot of the Goddess
and humbly asked Her to choose
the best.
Which of them all was exemplary.
Who would gain the prize?
Goddess Smiled —
and each, then, knew, in their hearts,
each one.
Tao Talk 