in the life of a sparrow

There's a special providence
in the life of a sparrow,
though it is like all providence
a mysterious and impersonal one

Their flight is the culmination
of many laws of gravity
millions of diverse cells
and millions of years of evolution

Their song is,
in its animal way
just as beautiful as Beethoven,
Mozart or Vivaldi

Simple, adaptable creatures
they're humanity's winged shadow
thriving as well under skyscrapers
as great redwoods,
to be found perched on power lines
as often as oaks or palm trees

The snapdragon or handy-man of birds,
they're low maintenance survivors,
everywhere to be seen
nimbly dodging speeding cars,
socializing, and turning an edible profit