Sunday, Sparrows, Sawsan (do unto others as….)

Posted on by Live & Learn

I knew when I took the shot this morning it would be a triggering moment for Sawsan who swoons over Sparrows.

Then I posted the shot on Instagram. In seconds, a text message comes flying in: “POST the Sparrow, PLEASE.”

Then message alerts won’t stop: Ping Ping Ping Ping Ping PING. PING. She lights up my inbox after I ask her to share a few thoughts on why I should post the picture.

I was a bit taken back — she said ‘PLEASE‘ vs. the customary JUST-DO-IT. Finally, a wee bit of control over Her on Something. I feel such joy over this…

Sawsan said it all started here with my post: Riding Metro North. With “My” Little Bird.’

Then she shares a passage from Thoreau in ‘Walden‘: “I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance that I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn.”

I had to look up “epaulet.”

I re-read the passage, and thought about the summer afternoon when the kids and I went to Cove Island Park. I had Birdie (our Sun Conure) on my shoulder — and, the kids were a least one hundred yards behind me, belly crawling in the grass, nope, don’t know him, never saw him before in our life.

But we digress.

Sawsan gets bold — and shares one of her poems. Also, in small print, a directive not to attribute the poem to her.

A few second pass…and my message alerts light up again.

“do you find it suitable” –

“does it fit your blog?” –

“it really doesn’t fit” “

“so let me think”

“no, don’t post it – just post the photo of the Sparrow – and the fact that Sparrows were the only birds that showed up at Lake Michigan during the polar vortex. No other creature.”

So, I think about it for less than 1/2 a second, and think, HA!. Don’t post it? Good luck with that! Don’t attribute it to her? More good luck with that!

Here it is:

Things you say turn into metaphors in my stomach.
A sparrow that keeps flapping it’s wings until I open my mouth for it
to come out.
And I have to translate what it’s saying.
So, I started writing this book from both ends.
From one end I’m writing your song.
From the other end I’m writing what the sparrow comes out of my
mouth saying.
It wants to sing your song. It wants to go back home where it came
from.
Tethered by a book spine.

And I think, WOW, who knew that Sawsan had any talent at all.

Beautiful!

Notes: This morning’s photos of the Sparrow and other birds here. Photos of twilight to daybreak here. Short video of the waterfalls here.

70 thoughts on “Sunday, Sparrows, Sawsan (do unto others as….)”

      1. I tell myself every day that tomorrow will be better. It’s the only way I know how to deal with all that I’m dealing with right now. My health is scary bad. I start Antibody Infusion Treatments on Thursday, praying the side effects aren’t too bad. Take good care. 🙂

        3. Love the sweet photo..I love, Sparrows, too 🙂 We have a large pampas grass plant nestled in the corner of a fence junction in our courtyard, where a family of Sparrows nest…we have a large fern in a corner next to the stoop (out of the wind & up next to the foundation) were visiting Sparrows take refuge when it is cold, or snowy or heavy rain, falls. We enjoy the Sparrows all over all yard.

          Now on to Sawsan – she is intelligent, talented & beautiful inside and out!!! Enjoyed your poem…

          Kindly, Christie

        4. Dave & Sawsan…I left a Reply about the photo and Sawson’s poem. I inadvertently,Up near the top of your page under a comment from “Looking for the Light” Dave & Sawsan you are both so talented!!!

  3. Those Riding Metro North musings were filled with such special nuggets.  Glad you are absorbing Sawsan’s energy.  There

  6. Sawsan, if I had just one little bit of your poetry skills, I would recite them at the top of my lungs! You and your talent are a diamond in the rough.

  8. I love that you chose the photo with it back to us and not the one where it is sideways. I love that Sawsan has such a presence with (over?) you 😉

    I LOVE Sawsan’s poem; which, to be fair, if she shared it with you, she had to know you would share it. What a wonderful poet she is. Just wow.

    3. Dk is determined to make me go public. Typical Banker!!! Next think he’ll be selling shares.

      2. It was so beautiful, and really reaches to my heart, Sparrows are so special for me too, but in your poem more than this. Thank you dear David, Thank you dear Sawsan, have a nice day for you all, Love, nia

  10. I walked away from my phone for an hour, to talk to my parents. What did you do here, Circus Monkey? Omg
    You missed the part where I said I need to get up to make breakfast.

  11. “Who knew Sawsan had such talent?” Ummmm, all of us who have followed her and/or interacted with her in any way! 🥰 A lovely poem and an equally charming photo. You guys are quite the creative team….

      1. Ah Sawsan, just callin’ it as I see it…and I see your generous heart and facility with language that is pretty awesome…

    2. Thank you, Laila.
      I love your name dearly. My daughter’s name is Layla. ❤️
      Which naturally makes me have a soft spot for you 🙂

        1. Awwww christie,Christie, you remember.
          Layla will be 20 in August, going on 3rd year to become a nurse practitioner.

          1. How fast time, moves forward…Layla, wow 20 this year!!! I am proud of her for working hard to become a nurse practitioner…My nephew’s wife is an NP and has a very busy practice…One of my neighbors is an NP & midwife, she still does GYN but think no longer OB …She is in her early 70’s…NP is a rewarding experience… and I know that you and your husband have instilled in your daughter a caring, compassion and a willingness to help others through life challenges & life’s Joys 🙂 Layla will be rewarded with many hugs and smiles from her patients, in the years to come…

          2. Layla surpassed all of us combined in her care, composure, and persistence. Looking at her, I know the future is in good hands.
            Thank you so much, Christie.

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