Vanishing Sparrow Poem by chandra thiagarajan

VANISHING SPARROW
Oh! Sparrow! Where have you gone?
Till yesterday you were here born,
I wonder, how you're from us torn,
Oh! Sparrow! W here have you gone?

Oh! Sparrow! I remember your chirpy call,
To children you were their first pal;
It was a real sight, so sweetly pleasant,
To behold you hopping around us, hesitant!

We were in enchantment of your beauty,
Nibbling at the scattered grains in bounty;
To your cool chirps, we were driven,
Our hearts, you did merrily enliven.

A cozy two-some you were ever,
Your flight was with your lover;
You eagerly took sand and water baths,
At it with glee filled our happy hearts.

With you, once our houses were dotted,
But now from us you have parted;
With man, why are you, in strife?
You know, you play a role in the web of life!

Hark! I hear the little sparrow speak!

The small creature with it's tiny beak!
"Oh! Man, I love your company too,
I'm also like you, now down in rue;

Me, to live with you, you couldn't woo,
It's all your own making-so very true;
Your concrete buildings are a vainglorious show,
To live with animals and birds you have let go.

You have no dwelling place for this sparrow,
Your mind has become very narrow;
You manure the fields and harvest seeds,
You spray pesticide and kill our insect feeds.

Where have we to build our nests?
Where have we to have our rests?
Where are we to lay our eggs?
How are we to raise our chicks?

You're all enamoured of the cell phone,
You've built towers in every zone;
You're perhaps unaware of the microwaves
That ripple through and on our enclaves..

In this inhospitable atmosphere,
How are we to live with you here?
Oh! Man! Do ponder over our survival,
Does it not behoove you for our revival? "

Sorry! My dear sparrow-so very sorry,
We ne'er reflected over your woes-don't worry;
Thanks for enlightening us of your story,
We shall, sure, make amends promptly.

Just for you, we've ear-marked a special day,
It'll be celebrated across the Globe to pave a way;
From the year 2010 it'll be 20th of March every year,
Public awareness will certainly raise you, my dear.

We'll start House Sparrow habitat conservation,
And put up nest-boxes for your propagation;
We'll provide water and food regularly,
And switch back to organic farming presently.

We'll make you secure from the canines,
We'll let you be shielded from the felines;
You'll be safe from the human foot-falls,
And soon see yourself hopping with your pals.

I'm sure your population will thus increase,
And your animosity with us will cease;
Our progeny shall ever admire you as we did,
And we shall remain with you as you bid.