(no subject)
scruffy sparrows
chatter outside the bakery
raisin scones
Gerald Vizenor, Favor of Crows
Common, worse-for-wear birds center an outdoor scene. The rumpled sparrows contrast with the sleek bakery, while their chatter invites personification. The object of their focus soon becomes apparent: delectable pastries. Perhaps the urban urchins glimpse the scones as they emerge from a hot oven, or grace a glass display case. The sparrows are teased by the elusive treats, though their "chatter" suggests their minds are working on the problem.
The haiku image evokes sympathies between human and sparrows, who can both appreciate a tasty pastry. Yet, the scene also hints at a troublesome hierarchy, a contrast between the decadent upper-class and others who can only view, without touching, their rich daily fare. Instead of emphasizing such divisions, the image's impact lies in the sparrows' lively and likely conspiratorial interchanges.