Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SPARROWS, by KAREN SWENSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SPARROWS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Where roof-ends rise up into dragons
Last Line: To be caged once again in the dark.
Subject(s): Buddhism; Salespersons; Sparrows; Buddha; Buddhists; Selling


Where roof-ends rise up into dragons
in the temple quiet of Bangkok
frantic wings are sold in small cages
by women to earn a few baht.

To free wings, to brefriend the flight
of even sparrows, earns Buddhist merit
and freedom for the self
trapped in repetitive cages of flesh.

Universal as dowdy sparrows,
in this gilded glitter of temples,
our ideals hover wings in sunlight
to be caged once again in the dark.





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