The Sparrow to My Penguin

I am a penguin, small and stuffed,

soft to the touch.

My toy feathers are jet black and

I have a tangerine-colored beak with

Bright round eyes

That see just about

everything.

 

Every morning I sit on the windowsill,

Waiting and watching

for the sun.

 

This is lonely business,

But it’s worth seeing

The bright orange disc

Rise flaming, above the

horizon.

 

A secret between you and me:

This never gets old.

The marvels of each day are small

and many.

 

Sometimes I sip tiny mugs of coffee,

Other times, I eat little delicious pieces of

pickled herring.

 

After all, that’s just what

Penguins like me

do.

 

People give me gifts.

Occasionally I get little peanuts

Wrapped in pink bows around

my neck.

If I'm lucky, I get chocolates,

Wrapped in bright colorful tinfoil.

Even though I am very small, easily fitting

Into the palm of a human hand,

It is plain to see

I am loved.

One day, a Sparrow, small and light and curious,

Eyes a blend of three different colors,

(brown and blue and green)

(I can still never tell which)

Came pecking upon the glass.

It took a little bit of effort,

For I have small arms and the window

seemed so very heavy

But I was able to let her in.

At first she chirped at me nervously,

You know, like sweet little birds do,

Singing me songs, flitting about,

Until she finally came closer.

I shared a tiny mug of coffee

And sweet crumbs of cookies.

(we all know

sparrows don’t eat

pickled herring)

Somehow after a few mornings

She just sort of nestled

Against my soft black feathers.

We watch the sun come up together

On most days

now.

 

She might be a Sparrow,

And I might be a Penguin,

But we both like the way

The sun comes up flaming

over the

horizon.

 

Maybe someday, I will show her

how to swim

And maybe someday she will show me

how to fly.

 

For now, though, we have coffee,

And a very nice windowsill to perch on.

There’s nothing better than

A hot drink and the company

Of a beautiful Sparrow

To start the day off

right.