CARLOS AND THE SWALLOWS

[Sue Littleton]

(I ask myself, is this a poem about birds, friendship, or is it a social comment?)

CARLOS AND THE SWALLOWS

For weeks now the three cats have jammed
the tiny kitchen window
to yearn after the brave little swallows
that perch on the TV antenna across the air shaft.
These are the same swallows that zoom
at the cats in defense
of their truly impregnable nests somewhere high up
on the side of the building.

The doorbell rang today
and when I opened the door,
Carlos the janitor was standing there
with two young birds
held gently in his brown fingers.
I have gained a sort of ornithological notoriety
over the years;
I had shown Carlos the pair of grey doves
recently nesting on my air conditioner motor.
and Carlos had asked for my reassurance
that the two fledglings
hiding under the shrubs downstairs
were, in fact, still under the care of their parents.
As well, he and I had arranged a nest
on my balcony for the yearly advent
of the pair of zorzales,
until that sad spring
they decided to move elsewhere.

He asked me first what kind of birds
these were
and should we put them in a cage
and try to feed them
because he was sure they were hungry,
poor things!
I knew the youngsters were old enough to try their wings,
and would not stay in the nest
even if we could rappel the apartment ramparts;
so their first flight had ended up
at the bottom of the air shaft
that is Carlos’s back yard.
I advised Carlos to take them to our garden,
that they were learning to fly
and probably their parents would appear
to feed them or they would manage
on their own,
and our apartment garden is free
of predators.

I gave Carlos a portion of bird seed
(on hand for those doves)
and he has released the young swallows
in a lovely area of greenery and jacarandás.
Before he left he told me in wonder,
“I never saw a swallow up close before!”

Dear man, how could he observe
those high-flying swift-moving birds,
living at the bottom
of an airshaft?

[mtmynd]

nicely expressed. thank you!

[jim turner]

Carlos would be about like dwellers in neon-bright cities trying to look at stars. A charming story you tell, as usual. And, by the way, before I forget, Happy New Year. jim

[dadio]

I love this poem, Sue. Happy 2011.

[Sue Littleton]

Much thanks, mtmy, Jim and Terry -- and may you have a wonderful 2011! Cariños, Sue ♥

[saw]

a nice story that conveys the importance of getting a close look before we make up our mind......happy new year......perhaps a fitting resolution as we proceed in the troubled waters of 2011.....

[Sue Littleton]

Point taken, saw -- except sometimes you are not in a place where you can GET a close luck! And let's plan for a splendid happy 2011! Hey, did you notice today is 1/1/11? That is good luck! Sue♥♥

[Hollweg]

Very nicely done, Sue. Your use of "air shaft" here nicely captures the perspective of the swallows -- sounds like it could be a hang glider's formulation for that sort of three dimensional space.

[Sue Littleton]

Thank you, Hollweg, fellow Texan! Glad you enjoyed the poem and your take on the airshaft is correct -- except that the airshaft is only as deep as the next-door building, which is three stories and boasts the swallow-perch antennas. Cariños, Sue

[justwalt]

And what did one baby swallow say to his brother...

"shhhhhhhh, quick, here he comes, act defenseless...
and look hungry!"

Happy New Universe, Sue

[joel]

My five-year-old nephew, just now over New year's, ventured to come look at my 20-pound schnauzer (who has been a fascinating terror to my nephew for the past half decade)...and to watch his eyes examine every inch of an animal so similar to our own bodies...it was amazing. He and Carlos would enjoy swapping stories I think...and I'd love to join them.

Blessings in 2011!