Birdcage (#1)

by Sakshi Gopal Das

 

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CAST: Narrator, Bird, Antique Dealer, Lady, Lady's Friends.

(Narrator reads the poem as Actors act it out and speak their own lines in time)

 

1 Exquisitely the cage was wrought with pillars carved in jade

And perches made of ivory, all beautifully inlaid

With semi-precious stones and pearl that glittered in the light

Reflected off the marble floor — a truly royal sight.

2 She saw it through the doorway as she passed by on the street —Standing in the corner of the shop that sold antiques.She went inside and asked the man "That cage is very nice,

But tell me where it's come from — and I want to know the price."

3 "The Queen of Sheba owned it once," the man replied with haste.

"A very rare and fine antique for people who've got taste.

A bit of polish here and there will bring it up a treat —But don't forget the bird inside, he also needs to eat."

4 She took it home that very day and placed it in the hall,

Beside the walnut writing desk that stood against the wall.

It sparkled as the evening sun shone through the open door

For she'd washed it down and polished it until her arms were sore.

"Feed me! Feed me!" sang the bird. "Feed me please!" he cried —But the lady only saw the cage and not the bird inside...

5 That night when she lay down to sleep, she dreamt of royal cages,

The kind enjoyed by kings and queens and princes through the ages.

She dreamt of Chinese Mandarins, of Rajahs and of Sheiks —But no one had a cage to match her newly found antique.

6 When at last the sun arose she woke up from her sleep,

And 'though she wasn't washed or dressed she ran to take a peep

And stood there in the hallway gazing at her new possession —But didn't hear the plaintive call, so great was her obsession.

"Feed me! Feed me!" called the bird. "Feed me please!" he cried —But the lady only saw the cage and not the bird inside...

7 She thought a party would be nice — in honor of the cage.So, going through her address book she went from page to page,

Inviting all the people whom she wanted to impress

To come for tea on Saturday — "Respondez S'il Vous Plais."

8 She hardly could contain herself while sending out the cards,

For thinking curtains would be nice — so purchased several yardsOf silk brocade to make the cage more beautiful than ever —And stayed up sewing all night long, so great was her endeavor.

9 On Thursday night she started making all the preparations —From currant buns to angel cakes, in great anticipationOf all the guests who said they'd come to see the new antique —The Vicar, Mrs. Balderdash, and all her social clique.

10 She cleaned the cage on Friday 'till it sparkled like a pin, but never saw the starving bird who begged for food within. And then — forgotten far too long — he tumbled from his perch, yet managed, with his dying breath, a final, feeble chirp — "Feed me! Feed me!" gasped the bird. "Feed me please!" he cried —And then, without another word, he breathed his last... and died.

11 On Saturday she cleaned the cage and polished it with pride, quite unaware the bird was dead and lying there inside. But by the time the doorbell rang the smell was growing strong.She thought, "Although I've cleaned the cage, there's something very wrong!"

12 In two's and three's the guests arrived and gathered in the hall.  Around the polished birdcage as it stood against the wall. But all agreed it smelled so bad it really was absurd.  That only one with half a brain would fail to feed the bird.

13 Shocked at her shortsightedness they asked her why she'd never thought to give the bird some food, enquiring, "Is it clever to only see the cage and not the bird who lives within? You've killed it with your negligence — it really is a sin."

14 "The cage, my dear, is very nice, as anyone can see, and shouldn't be neglected by the likes of you and me, But what a dreadful thing you've done — so foolish and absurd —To think the cage is everything, and never feed the bird!"

15 So great was her embarrassment she tried to run and hide, but slipped upon the Persian rug and fell upon her side—into the antique birdcage which then toppled to the floor and broke into a thousand pieces, some say even more.

16 Exquisitely the cage was wrought with pillars carved in jade and perches made of ivory, all beautifully inlaid with semi-precious stones and pearl that glittered in the light, until it smashed upon the floor—no more a royal sight.

17 For those who haven't understood, we'll leave you with a clue: The pampered cage is flesh and bone, the woman really you

Who think this body all in all, who kill the soul inside,

And waste the chance of human life — misled by foolish pride.

The End

 

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