After all the fuss and

bother about staying in or going out

Candace said to Isaac,

”Don’t complain about the wind. Don’t

even think about it.’

‘Far be it from me,’ he said,

grabbing with a frantic snatch to catch

her hat as the wind swept it off

into the spinning up draught.

Just then a magpie flew over and

kindly brought it back to her,

like a gentleman in a tuxedo, bowing.

Most courteous he was.

‘Never have I seen such a sight,’ said Candice, astonished.

Obtusely, Isaac claimed he had.

Preposterous proposition. Of course, he hadn’t, ever.

Quite contrary to the truth it was.

Ravens might do this or

seagulls might in exchange for fish but

try now to imagine, if you will,

unlikely situations.

Valiant mice attacking lions,

wolves protecting sheep, rabbits chasing dogs,

xerosis afflicting all the slugs that wander into flower beds,

young mountains, yesterday’s coming back tomorrow, are all as likely to be true as

zebras sitting knitting or magpies acting kindly.

© A.Chakir 2023