This is priceless. For those of you with cockatoos, especially goffins, the engineering variety of cockatoo, you will treasure this. Once again, the author is unknown:
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the flights,
Not a bird was stirring since I turned off the lights.
Clean dishes were stacked by the freezer with care,
So in the morning they would be filled with fresh healthy fare.
The birds were all fed and put out to play,
Everyone was settled – I was done for the day.
When down from the basement there arose such a clatter,
That I ran for the stairs to see what was the matter.
I raced down the steps and turned down the light,
Glancing first to the left and then to the right.
It was then that I noticed the now empty spot,
In the cage where the Cockatoos should be but were not!
The Goffins are missing I yelled to my spouse,
While I shuddered to think what they’d do to the house.
My fears were well founded I soon came to know.
As I surveyed the destruction in the bird room below.
Feeding doors had been opened, the dishes all tossed,
Bags were ripped open their contents all lost.
The marauders unfastened from the cage tops each toy,
which they tossed at the occupants below with such joy.
The other birds sulked as they viewed the whole mess,
This Cockatoo duo had created such stress!
I searched through the room, my frustration profound,
Those two fiendish beasts simply weren’t to be found!
It was then that I noticed the Senegal staring,
As his eyes flashed with anger I saw he was glaring
Towards the side of the room at an overturned pail.
I followed his gaze and saw a flash of white tail.
Holding my breath as I approached with great care,
Was it possible both could be hiding in there?
I snatched up the bucket and the villains were exposed,
They knew they were busted and for a second they froze,
Then the Cockatoo shriek and scrambling of feet,
They raced for their cage in hasty retreat.
I slammed the door shut as I trembled with rage,
Don’t you two ever, ever come out of your cage!
They stared at me smugly cheeks puffed with contentment,
Their mission accomplished they ignored my resentment.
I’ll clean up tomorrow.
I said aloud with a sigh
As I walked toward the steps one ‘Too said “bye bye.”
As I turned with a grin I felt suddenly calm,
Their sweet little voices could act as a balm.
For along with their mischief, they brought love and fun,
It was hard to stay angry despite what they’d done.
My jangled nerves and life’s hectic pace,
Had made me forget what was in my face.
I didn’t need gifts, fancy stuff from the store.
I had all I needed, my birds and much more!
My dear friends and family, my health and my spouse,
Everything that mattered was right here in this house.
So Santa I thank you but I don’t need a lot,
I’m learning to be grateful for all that I’ve got.
If you come down my chimney to leave something new,
Just leave me some padlocks so I can lock up the ‘Toos!!
I wish you all the happiest holidays and the brightest new year.
Author Patty Jourgensen specializes in avian health, behavior and nutrition and has been working with and caring for rescue birds since 1987.
127 comments
Although I do not have a cockatoo I enjoyed this poem. I have many birds and they are all precious to me. On the radio today was playing “Santa Claus is coming to town”. I started swaying with the beat. My blue-throated macaw, Mia, scrambled up to her highest perch and began to sway with the beat. I then looked over at my Afican Grey, Simon, and he was bobbing his head up and down to the beat. And not least, but my Duyvenbode Lory, CoCo, was flapping her wings and hopping up and down. Such fun! Very Merry Christmas to you and your flock!
Hey Chet that was a really cute poem. Glad you shared that with me. I wish you and your family a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS Edith
Thats nice I wish you too a happy christmas and more health for next year 2010.
FUN AND INSPIRING! THANKS.
happy new year and merry christmas
Hey Chet, thank you for this wonderful poem, I can relate with my Lutino Red Rump and my two Budgies. Once I left the Budgies out for a while and next thing I knew They had flown all over the place , torn up papertowel, chewed on paper, pencils, pooped all over the place! They are very energetic, but do not like to come out anymore. My Lutino Red Rump is another story. She wants to come out everyday, and cannot keep herself entertained long enough I know what you mean about mot being able to stay mad at them though, as soon as I see their cute little faces looking up at me knowing they’ve done wrong I just HAVE to forgive them <3 Merry Christmas!!!!
a Very Merry Christmas to you chet from Horseshoe bay TX. taught my African Grey to say Merry Cristmas and after waking up each morning he cals for my husband then asks for a beer, says thank you and says Merry christmas. what a Hoot from my two year old parot. Blessings, LuLu
OK. I found the authors name. Etta Smith.
Fantastic we have a umbrella cockatoo and he is very mischievious, so this poem reminds us of him Ken and Brenda in Durban South Africa
I just read on another list that Etta (?) wrote that poem. Sorry I don’t know the last name. I is a great poem. I laughed and laufged!
AAAaaaawwwwwwww That is so funny!!! Thank you!!!! Barb, Baby and Beenie :)))
thank you. so creative and FUNNY! only a parrot owner would understand.
I can just see it happening! And I hear the sweet Bye-Bye that erases all the rage! And we think we are in control! I can’t think of any other being can be so mischievious – its just wonderful. Thank you to the unkown author and Womach Bros for sharing your poem with us. The words at the end are just sooo true – I too have all I need in my own home. A wonderful Christmas to all.
Thanks for the poem, Very cute. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all you bird people.
We have a pair of Goffins. We laughed as I read this poem out loud to my husband. It was all so true. He said, Been there, did that and bought the t’shirt, but the too’s bit a hold in it. lol Loved the poem, thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas and We hope you have a Happy, Healthy New Year for you and your feathered friends!
that was so funny os it real did your cockatoos realy do that i have two lovebirds but they are so small they cant do that much damage but they can escape from their cage
As a bird owner and lover I can relate, birds can be a handful with a simple mistake I have had my messes and they’ve had their fun but all in all its my heart they have won So Womack Family, I share with these words The delight and love I’ve found in my birds…. Training is simple, Thanks to your clan I’d not trade my video’s for none in the land So our family wishes you a Merry Holiday as we keep training our birds-The Womack Way.. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Thank you so much for sharing that. Too Good !!!
I’m in-between birds right now and coveting one at my local pet store-I want to be sure.This holiday poem made me smile and miss having a bird buddy!
its a very nice piece
that was awesome thank you
Hello: Rosemary here: I read the poem that was wrote, and sent to me. I loved the poem, and it does sute what goes on, but one thing for sure no matter what goes on they are loved very much it does inspire me once again. It gave me great joy to read the poem, and does make me indeed smile. thank you so much for sending it to me. Merry christmas to you, and hope you have a very good one this year. thank you so much for sending it to me.
That was great! Merry Christmas to you and your family, and thanks for all the wonderful tips you’ve given for training my birds!
Thanks for the great story. Only thing different the birds would be lovebirds. Had a pair get out and stay in the Christmas tree when I was in California. Only one at a time would go to the cage and eat and drink, when that one left the cage the other one would go in eat and drink then back to the tree. I wasn’t able to get them both to the cage for about 3 months.
sure did put a smile on my face, and also merry christmas to all the birds out there in the world! sarah
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