Sparrows: Hunger Organized
March 14, 2015
House sparrow
Sparrow
by Wendell Berry
A sparrow is
his hunger organized.
Filled, he flies
before he knows he’s going to.
And he dies by the
same movement: filled
with himself, he goes
by the eye-quick
reflex of his flesh
out of sight,
leaving his perfect
absence without a thought.
On my recent trip to the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Santuary, I saw at least four kinds of sparrows of the 35 kinds that live in the United States. Here are some photos:
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March 15, 2015 at 7:20 am
I have house sparrows galore, just now. I’ve been putting out a handful of shelled pecans for the bluejays every morning, and the sparrows have discovered the best trick is to pick up a pecan and fly off with it. I had wondered at how quickly the nuts were disappearing. My little thieves have done it!
The fox sparrow is beautiful. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one. Certainly, I haven’t “seen” one, in the sense of noticing it and remembering. They may be around.
I heard doves cooing this morning — it’s a sure sign of spring.