Inner Woman

Bright green head

Feathers ruffled up

He says scratch

His voice a squeaky

Imitation

He rubs his head

Against my chin

His beak a vice

It cracks the hardest nut

But for me, he gently preens

My braid

Until it lays in waves

The ribbon in his claw

His feathers emerald

With rainbow spots

Of orange, yellow,

Blue and red

Are covered in dander

Powdered dust

Kiss kiss

He says

The words distinct

And climbs onto my shoulder

One foot clinging to my ear as he

Touches a razor

Sharp beak

To my lip

Love for him

Is love for me

As a life-long friend

Not only a pet

The first voice I hear

As I come home

Is my parrot calling

Hello, hello

I open his cage,

He scrambles free

Lands on my shoulder

And there he stays

Till the clock strikes eight

Bedtime for him

And for me as well

He sleeps on the headboard

As I nap

But at night

Under his cover

His voice calls to me

Love you

Night night