Low Owl, Gutter Eagle,
Corvid, Hawk, Heron, Jay—

Who stitched our nerves?
Who gave us words?

The dialects of Goose
all honk and hiss and huff—

Who built the cities?
Who extruded roads?

Whistle Thrush, Kestrel,
Common Condor, Toucan—

Who chose who spoke?
Who silenced the sparrow?

The scratchmark and scuff
of Sandpiper slang-sign—

Who lifts the tides?
Who steers the stars?

Vatic Vulture, High Grouse,
Stork, Crane, Pigeon, Budgie—

Who emptied the cities?
Who broke the Moon?

The air and feather patter
of Hummingbird patois—

Who made us lords
yet scorned the sparrow?

Shrike, Starling, Waxwing,
Emu, Ostrich vernacular—

Who lit the first fire?
Who inked the first letter?

The click cleck chatter
of Woodpecker Morse—

Who rusted the cities?
Who buried the bones?

Parrot, Pelican, Penguin,
Flamangese, Cassowary—

What does the sparrow
know of the eagle?