b77 (1/17/2013): dead sparrow

dead sparrow [1]
by al i. veforever
 

i picked-up a dead sparrow
i swear i saw her move
i think that (maybe) sparrow had a little more to prove
 
she turned her head and looked at me, with softness in her eyes
and then she held my hand (so tight); so gentle, yet so wise
 
and with a look of sadness… (i wanted her to stay)
i opened up my heart (i smiled)
i let her fly away
 
and with a look of sadness (we all wanted her to stay)
we opened up our hearts (we smiled)
we waved goodbye, today

_____________________________
 
* at donna’s house, small birds are sometimes attacked by a hawk, and the fleeing birds have been known to fly into the kitchen window -- in an effort to escape.   we heard the familiar ‘thump’ on the window, and several family members saw the hawk leave its prey on the snow-covered deck, just in front of the sliding-glass door.
 
* this particular sparrow appeared to be lying there, lifeless in the snow, so we decided to leave her there… essentially allowing the hawk to come back and have “nature, take its course.”
 
* but something strange happened.  after what seemed like 15-20 minutes of lying, face-down in the snow, i thought that i saw her move!   …so i went outside and cupped her into my hands.
 
* she (almost immediately) sprang to life, but instead of trying to fly, she clutched onto my hand with her tiny little claws.  we took a few photos, and then brought her into the house so that tom could attempt to revive her.  he went to get a box, and the plan was to let her slowly regain some sense of control. 

i brought her over to dad, and he, visibly moved, 

petted her head, lovingly... as if he was re-membering his wife (r.i.p. jo) 

who left this planet just a few days prior: 

waaaaaaaay too soon.  

she (this re-incarnation, this sparrow) seemed to get stronger!

 
* and when tom brought the box, and when i tried to lower her into it, she would not let go.   she was determined, powerful, and unyielding.  one might say, "jo-esque."
 
* donna could sense that this bird was ready to fly, and she mentioned something about the challenges associated with birds, flying around (inside of the house), so i walked outside, with bird in hand.
 
* with family looking on in suspended disbelief, our (apparently) dead sparrow took on New Life... and flew away.
 
 
 
 

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[1] martino, joal. (1.17-1.2013). dead sparrow. book 77: re-view. © 2013 by joal martino. 

later on, in the airport...