submitted by Connie Craig, Van Nuys, CA
I’ve seen a few bird fights in my time: males fighting over females, a group of males encouraging male fighters, a mockingbird chasing a crow, crows chasing a hawk, etc. I had never seen a male and female fight before those two sparrows. As I stood on a sidewalk in Los Angeles @ 12 years ago, the two birds flew near, spinning in circles appearing to be locked at the feet. At first I was concerned for the female sparrow, that she might be hurt. However, after the male took off and came back and dive-bombed her with a body slam from above…She did the same to him. She gave as good as she got! The last I saw of the couple of birds, they were still fighting. Neither one gave an inch. I wasn’t worried about the female, any more.
submitted by Jen Kohan, Minneapolis, MN
The first time I saw him, he was nearly gasping for air. To my right in the street behind me I heard his footfalls before I ever saw him. When I first knew that the sound was chasing me, I slowed my steps near the streetlight, and turned. He was spent. Forehead dewy with sweat, he rested his hands, like paws, on his hips and exhaled.
“That was a long jog.” Heavy breath. He was still in shadow then, but I felt the lamplight approaching him as he moved toward me.
The navy sweat suit matched the midnight pavement and softened his large frame, his chest a barrel. The navy baseball cap hugged his head low, and the bill cast the shadow more deeply over his face. The light still could not reach his eyes.
The last layer, that last tier of shadow fell from tinted lenses in square, wire eyeglass frames. The tennis shoes worn. Out of fashion.
Something wasn’t right. I started to back up, out of the fallen streetlight. Read more »
submitted by Kimberly Yarbrough Carpenter, Monroe, LA
Wake up little one
If you don’t come
Then I’ll take the baby.
Be quiet, lie still
Papa has work for you
The nighttime is when I pick
The freshest of fruit
Busted cherries bleed red
Stains the teeth
Stains the sheets
Block the ringing pain
It’s Thanksgiving again
The turkey’s huge
Dessert is you.
submitted by Carly Swenson, Montana
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