Dodo is not a Bird
A tribute to my sister Doris
By Hal Mitchell
Dodo may be the strangest name you’ve ever heard
And you may think it looks quite absurd
But Dodo is not a bird, nor a derogatory word!
Dodo was a loving nickname our daddy chose
For my sister Doris whom everybody knows
Is as sweet and lovely as a rose
Dodo was a shortened word for Doris, Doris,
Repeating the words like chorus, chorus
A musical gift God gave our Dad for us.
Dodo is not a bird!
Hey, can Dodo bake? You bet your boots.
She bakes cakes; and pies made with fruits.
Some even say she and Crocker are in cahoots.
Dodo was like a second Mom to me
And all who knew her could readily see
She was as lovable and kind as she could be;
When I was only three and full of dread,
In winter she’d warm a blanket for my bed.
It’s all true and everybody said,
Dodo is not a bird!
When Dodo grew to become a teen
She was the prettiest girl you’d ever seen
And nobody ever said that she was mean.
She could sketch a picture and sing a tune.
She could do the jitterbug in the month of June.
She loved Sinatra and heard him croon.
You may think this poem’s author was Dr. Seuss
Or that this awkward bird resembles a goose,
But not celebrating Dodo’s 90th is no excuse.
No, Dodo is not a bird! It’s an affectionate word – for Doris!