the hawk and the sparrow

Date: 7/15/2021

two clutches of eggs in a hearth made of stone, one with its mother—the other alone. the mother hawk snuggles her chicks to her breast, but the sparrow has gone and abandoned her nest. so into my pocket I nestle each egg, and to the mother Sparrow I pray and I beg, “please little bird, don’t forsake this poor brood.” but the bird did not listen when her young softly cooed.