Bird Song Sounds Out of Tune Only to the Human Ear

in the quiet between November and December,
a white-throated sparrow sings
five long notes

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for weeks I insist I hear an off-key bird,
stand barefoot on the porch
of my not-knowing

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Po-or Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody
sings the sparrow, passerine toes
holding the pine

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even when I did not know your name, sparrow,
I knew your song, the particular way 
you break the silence