Nest

 
 
 

Little brown sparrow,
 
in the old stone Buddha’s lap
 
you have built your nest.

Why

 
 
 

Little brown sparrow,
 
why are you singing spring songs
 
with snow on the ground?

Enough

 
 
 

Little brown sparrow,
 
will you find enough to eat
 
now that autumn’s come?

Frost

 
 
 

Little brown sparrow,
 
will you find enough to eat
 
now that frost has come?

Wheelchair

 
 
 

Little brown sparrow,
 
an old man in his wheelchair
 
scatters crumbs for you.

Train

 
 
 

Little brown sparrow,
 
as the night train roars through town
 
you stay fast asleep.

Plaque

 
 
 

Little brown sparrow,
 
the marble plaque is empty,
 
waiting for your name.

Stray

 
 
 

Little brown sparrow,
 
at the cold-water spigot
 
you sip some stray drops.

Days

 
 
 

Little brown sparrow,
 
the days are getting shorter,
 
but your song grows long.

Hurdy-gurdy

 
 
 

Little brown sparrow,
 
the blind hurdy-gurdy man
 
grinds out tunes for you.