Have you seen the delightful creatures
Cocking their head to the side
like a little child watching
their beady eyes blinking
in awe
before they flap their streaked wings and fly
into the sky?
Have you heard their voices
like children in the playground chattering
What a ruckus they cause tweeting
hopping and skipping
in groups
specks of brown amidst grass blades
and leaves and flowers of different shades?
Have you seen them pecking
at grains, a tiny morsel at a time
their crowns bent, their velvety throats heaving
like a pulse moving in and out
their grey breast
like the cheeks of Michelangelo’s cherubs
as they swallow their grub?
Have you seen them fly
free specks in the sky
and descend on their dainty feet
on the window seat
and did it not stir something within
that reached your eyes
and make you feel warm and fuzzy?
Did you not then feel blessed
that you were bestowed upon, these gifts of nature
to entertain, distract and give you solace
in your time of sorrow
or loneliness
Did you not then think of it as Him visiting
and did you not wish to rejoice?
Apparently the population of house sparrows have reduced dramatically over the years. A friend of mine in Bangalore told me that it had been ages since she’d spotted one. It’s the same in Mangalore. There was a time sparrows flew in and out of the windows of my grandmother’s house. They were family. When I checked with my aunt last, she said that they don’t visit anymore.
I count myself blessed that Mumbai still has sparrows and two of the many sparrows here visit me three times a day for breakfast, lunch and tea flying in through the bird’s net that we’ve put up to keep the pigeons, crows and kites at bay. In fact a sparrow has even used one of our hanging flower pots in which the plant died some time ago, as a place to build its nest.
This poem is inspired by Mary Oliver’s poem https://www.best-poems.net/mary_oliver/the_swan.html in honor of my all-time favorite bird – The House Sparrow.
Are there sparrows in your city? Do you feed them? If you do, you are helping them from becoming extinct.
Which is your favorite bird? If you have one, write a poem on it and share the link below in the comments section. I’d love to read it.
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Reblogged this on Eúnoia and commented:
On the occasion of World Sparrow Day, I’d like to share a poem I wrote last year in honour of my favourite bird. Sparrows have declined the world over,- that’s what all the newspaper reports say. However, I am fortunate they visit me every single day for breakfast, lunch and tea. They haven’t stopped during the pandemic. In fact, they’re family now. Every day, we put some rice for them to eat and water for them to drink. They come around chirping, hopping from branch to branch, in and out of the potted plants in the balcony.
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Sparrows have declined here dramatically too over the years. Fortunately there is a small colony of them living in a hedge at the end of our street – their rowdy character as captured in your poem is always a delight.
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Oh there too! That’s terribly sad. I believe they have a lot of them in Canada. Got to know from a blogger who commented. 😊’rowdy’ they are, constantly chattering. Thank you Andrea for reading. Your comments always perk me up.
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we have tons of them here in Canada. Love them too, so cute!
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Oh really! That’s so good to know. Really wouldn’t want them to become extinct. And yes, they are cute!
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They are innocent visitors indeed. Hope they keep visiting.
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Yes I hope so too…today there were 10 of them happily chirping away. I love the sound of the birds. Thanks Pragalbha for reading.
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Yes, it is hard work raising a baby bird as they die very easily. You have to give them a lot of water with a syringe. I raised a hoopoe (woodpecker family) and a dove.
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Totally impressed. I can only imagine. They’re so tiny. You must need a lot of love and patience to raise them. It must be an amazing experience. Did you manage to take pictures of them for memory sake?
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I love this poem, Smitha. I too am fond of birds and have raised a few babies by hand.
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Thanks Robbie! That’s huge. One more thing in common :). But wow! You’ve actually raised baby birds. There’s so much I would love to learn from you.
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