works by william pham, 2005-present

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Song for a Sparrow
I want to SMASH the sparrow who sings
lovelovelove in the morning to serenade
the crow who cries a-lone a-lone a-lone
on the phone that rings and rings and rings
until the sun melts the morning haze away.

What does the sparrow know about songs
hitting-hating-wanting-waiting in corners,
played in the gaps between carbon homes
to fill the rocks thrown at the windows
where a million juliets spend their lives?

A million juliets cut their wrists
with rusted knives borrowed from fathers
who ignore the phone that rings and rings
and rings in monotones, and I want to
smash the sparrow who does not sing those
silver songs to the crow who knows
those monotones.

copyright (c) 2005 by william pham