Carmen's Parrot
Art Heifetz
She winked at me in the market
as she made change
ripe as a berry
that begs to be plucked.
And so Godforgiveme
I took her home.
The senora was visiting
her vulture of a mother
leaving only her parrot
(Rosa) and me.
I was never Rosaīs darling.
She cried out
culo
and pecked my ear
whenever I passed.
But Carmen she adored
Carmen who fed her coffee and bread
as she sat on her shoulder
and cocked her head
as if she were following
our every word.
That night she learned
a few choice phrases
which she recited to the padre
when he stopped by for lunch:
come closer baby
place your hand right there
that feels so good
They say that confession
is good for the soul
but I find it overrated.
They say that parrots can live to be eighty.
but Iīd give Rosa less than two
before she ends up in
a yellowAmazonparrotstew
fit for the governorīs table.
