Birds of One Feather

Artist Unknown

Phineas woke up one Fall morning

To find the leaves turned brown and withered

He donned a sweater and a scarf

And human hands to keep him warm

At the wharf, he met a sage

Handless, hairless, and lined with age

"Fortune, fortune, will I read,"

Cried the sage, to mislead

Chirping and whirring with delight

Phineas agreed to pay any price

The sage raised his stumps, a dark, dark blight

And looked askance at Phineas, twice

"Fortune, fortune will I read,

For your warm mittens and a bead,"

The sage was sly, and Phineas simple

A devil's deal...if 'twere not for Kimpel

 Kimpel the Fisherman, young and wise

Had made a pledge to his mother dear

To protect the innocent from false scries

For to one, she lost her heart sincere

Throwing aside his fisher's creel,

A strong, firm hand did Kimpel use

To halt the lies, the steal, the deal

And stop a most unfortunate ruse

Cries and howls, unholy to hear

The sage let loose with a single tear

Phineas, simple and kind at heart

With his mittens did he gladly part

Alarmed by kindness, the sage did pause

As the cold shriveled the boy's poor claws

"Ye are good," the sage did say,

"I am changed, from this 'ere day."

Kimpel assessed and judged and nodded

Truth was told, redemption awarded

So the boy, the sage, and the fisherman together

Became fast friends, Birds of One Feather