What You Give is What You Get

The Peacock was a kind, dear sort,
Always helping out
The other Birds in the woods,
Always there without a doubt.

He was beautiful, but not too proud,
His feathers shone in light.
He didn't strut and didn't brag
And always did what's right.

Once the Dove had hurt her wing,
So Peacock gave a boost
To help Dove back into her nest,
So she could rest and roost.

And when the Raven could not see
Because of brief eye strain,
Peacock helped him with his food
By sharing all his grain.

These kind actions are not the norm
For all Peacocks, you see.
Most were focused on themselves,
The other Birds agreed.

One day when our Peacock awoke,
His tail could not be found!
Feathers fell out while he slept
With a few still on the ground.

The Ants were taking them away!
They must have liked the quills.
Thinking they were beautiful,
They'd decorate their hills.

By the time Peacock realized
What was going on,
It was too late to save his plumes-
Most of them were gone.

The other Peacocks came and laughed,
"What happened to you?
Look at that ugly, wierd, bald Bird!"
Our Peacock's shame then grew.

Embarrassed, he hid himself away.
Consumed with grief and shock.
Without his beautiful, grand feathers,
Could he still be a real Peacock?

Over time, Peacock's absence
Caused his friends concern.
Where was that Bird that they all knew?
Always doing a good turn?

They went to seek Peacock out
And found him sad at home.
They coaxed and begged and pleaded too,
But down he wouldn't come.

The Birds felt bad for Peacock 
And they knew they had to act
To make him feel himself again,
Despite the feathers he now lacked.

They came up with a great idea,
Sure Peacock would agree
And happily he'd go along
With their strategy!

The Birds all called on Peacock
And his beak then dropped with awe.
He could not believe what they did,
Not expecting what he saw!

Each of the Birds was holding out
Some feathers of their own-
They wanted to thank Peacock
For the good that he had shown.

The Raven, Robin, Dove all gave,
The Blue Jay and the Wren.
Hawk and Owl, Crow and Finch
And the local farm's Chickens!

They worked all day and into night,
But when they were all done,
Peacock's new tail was beautiful-
He felt brilliant as the sun!

You see, others do not recall
If you're pretty or made that shot-
What they remember most of all
Is how much heart you've got.