This is the story of two orphan sparrows
Emerged from the egg alone but together
Wait as long as they did, which was quite a bit
No mama, no papa, gave even a nit

Mama was of the type easy and fickle
She soared off with a suave, debonair eagle
Papa was hopeless, never looked where he went
He was shredded to bits in an airplane vent

So for our two orphan sparrows, for supper
There would be no regurgitated spittle
Fear not, they’d feast and they’d feast and they’d nibble
On minute nest mites and mountain pine beetle

The mites were all protein, the beetles all fat
They ate and they ate; for dessert there were gnats
They soon became too big, too large for the nest
Imminent departure was in their … interest best

The younger bird broke the news to the elder

It’s time we leave this place, my dearest brother
Look for a new nest before it gets too late
And maybe find a nice chick or two to date

We haven’t any arms said the autre frère
Look, terra firma, it is way far down there
And without arms, oh dearest brother of mine
Down, or even up, there’s no way we can climb

That is true said the first you tell not a lie
But if we just believe, I think we can fly

I have heard it said, I cannot recall where
We two are sparrows and we’re meant for the air
With these here two wings, see, and these here feathers
Soar we can, in all but the worse of weather

What if you’re wrong said his bro terribly so
Seems an awful bother; let’s let this one go

Believing is for some, still not for others
The younger took flight, left behind his brother
For how long he would fly is anyone’s guess
But never-ever did he return to nest

Faith is for the feckless, the simpleminded
The one left behind did chirp and concluded
And with his brother’s everlasting exit
In the nest, there was room to spread out a bit

He continued to feast, eat, and to nibble
On minute nest mites and mountain pine beetles
He grew so big, so wide, and ever so fat
Flying, now … his butt would have none of that

From his girth, the nest broke to briar and bits
In the end, flight would not be for the one left
He fell to the ground with a thump and a squawk
Not even a wing beat, but he did learn to walk

Our lone sparrow bought a fur coat, headed south
Faith he thought like being a’laden with louse
He’d been left behind, horribly abandoned
He let his heart freeze over and roomed with the penguins