Sparrows - Poem

   This morning I saw a sparrow
   on a thin stalk of yellow corn,
   the only plant adorning
   the seaside hotel.
   The sparrow cleaned itself;
   the stalk shook.
   Another sparrow came;
   the stalk bent.
   A third sparrow;
   the stalk bowed quickly.
   Then suddenly,
   and in unison,
   the three sparrows took off
   leaving the hotel.
   And under my shirt
   a thousand sparrows
   shivered.

Saadi Youssef (translated from the Arabic by Khaled Mattawa)

COPYRIGHT 2002 Commonweal Foundation
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group