"but the house sparrows are . . ."

but the house sparrows are
mating again each on top
of the other or sideways
flapping and chirping they're so
immodest so indiscriminate with each

other although it doesn't look
like it actually feels good
it looks like some voltage
is making them do it
but they do it regardless

and you don't see them
screaming in pain unless that's
what all that chirping is
we meanwhile couldn't have asked
for all our free will

Copyright © 2006 Jon Woodward All rights reserved
from The Literary Review
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission