passerine
Lindz McLeod
If history is written by the victors,
art must be made by the rest.
From birth, zebra finches have
a countdown of 90 days to learn
their song. Or else they’re stuck
with a truncated melody forever.
Unfinished by whose standards?
Maybe they chose not to
live as prescribed; defying
their elders. Rebelling against
a song caught in a traditional craw.
Signalling to the hatchlings-
yes, there are fresher paths to joy, if you
are bold enough to syncopate.
Lindz McLeod's short stories have been published by the Scotsman newspaper, the Scottish Book Trust, 365 Tomorrows, and the Dundee Victoria & Albert Museum. She has published poetry with Allegory Ridge, Hellebore, perhappened, and more. She is the competition secretary of the Edinburgh Writer’s Club, holds a Masters in Creative Writing, and is represented by Headwater Literary Management. www.lindzmcleod.co.uk Twitter: @lindzmcleod