THE WONDERBIRD

Table of Contents:

What is The Wonderbird?

"The Wonderbird" is meant to be a representation of my personal experience with Waardenburg Syndrome. My biggest inspiration for this character was how, growing up, my mother was never able to say "Waardenburg", so she would refer to the syndrome as "The Wonderbird". I imagine the bird itself not to be necessarily aggressive, but just a persistent inconvenience that constantly follows you, hopping along the ground or flying short distances in a sort of slow pursuit.

The Wonderbird is not meant to be a direct stand-in for myself, but rather a part of myself that will forever define me. All the physical aspects of the bird are meant to be a combination of a lyrebird and common traits that I have seen in both myself and others with the syndrome. I also tried to like capture that feeling of otherness that can be brought on by just being noticeably different, and how, despite people claiming to understand that feeling, they'll never truly understand that level of isolation without experiencing it themselves. The very last stanza is a reference to Marc Bolan, so bonus points for everyone who can pinpoint exactly where that phrase is from.

The Wonderbird

The Wonderbird can barely see,

but knows that you will not be freed

Golden dark,

with streaks of silver

Seatherny eyes,

cadmium quiver

Misshapen teeth,

disfigured face

Your fate foretold,

the nides disgrace

The Wonderbird can't see can't hear,

bothersome bird still perseveres

Silk thin skin,

glassblown bones

Qualming heart,

your pain exposed

Brought to shame,

retarded swink

The door to lame,

lined with mink

The Wonderbird can't hear or sing,

sequestration, of their doing

The roost made homely

The rooster gone

The Wonderbird,

with you, alone

Godforsaken,

the vultures laden

They pity the man,

who misunderstands

Have you heard the cry,

of the dying bird

Who only saw,

what he heard

And only heard,

what most people see?

3/26/24

(Collage) The Wonderbird

10/28/25

Extras

I was sort of experimenting with how I wanted to depict The Wonderbird and I think this was the first time I considered adding elements of a lyrebird, although it looks more like a parrot here

I was trying to figure out my signature and I wanted it to look like a "W" but also a lyrebird

The first version of The Wonderbird, I think it was supposed to be based off a bat and a finch

A more realistic Wonderbird that is much more lyrebird looking

Another early depiction of The Wonderbird featuring seashell shards, feathers, and a kittens tooth

Just a bird I saw that I liked

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