Windowsill Rescue

Rainy light, grey-green as underwater,
fading into evening laced with flares of
sodium in streetlights. Something brought her
to the window. Laying down the cares of
family life, economies and juggling
needs against desires, she raised the curtain,
thinking she had heard a sound—of struggling—
or imagined it? She wasn't certain.

Clinging to the ornamental shutter
was a sparrow hatched from spring's first nesting
too soon launched and drowning in the gutter.
"Poor thing, did you think you were a swan?"
She brought the bird in, dried it, left it resting.
When she looked again the bird had gone.

Collection available! Knocking from Inside