The sparrow

I woke up to a frozen window

as my friend knocked at my door

thrice, and then she opened the door to my room

as she saw me staring out of the frozen glass

covering my eyes and opening them

looking at that sparrow on my windowsill. 

Her wings frozen and heavy

with snow on them

Shivering, blood trickled down her wings

and got frozen in no time

as I touched the glass

and did scare her away

to the river nearby

to wash off that blood

but the river was ice cold

A man by the river with bonfire

touched her wing with  burnt twig

better burnt than washed. 

The burning wing fascinated her, 

she jumped into the fire, 

chirping, 

That I have much dirt on me, 

and my heart, 

and my mind, 

and my soul, 

I have to wash it all

So, better burnt than washed away. 

That bird was me, 

I was staring at myself, 

and then I realised---

My friend was yelling at me saying : Get up Shafaq, there is a fire upstairs. 

~Shafaq Shahid.