His Eye is on The Sparrow

Published on by Laura Bloomsbury

in the eye of a sparrow –a moment flecked gold
~ Dora @Pilgrim Dreams: 

Passer domesticus biblicus* -
I have seen them on the Western wall
their plumage of such humble hue
besides the bleach white doves.
So commonplace they congregate 
in crevices, chit-chat amongst the messages
that fill the temple stones. And flock 
and fill the bible with their presence too. 
Significance as metaphor in verses
old and new, sung to His deliverance,
watchfulness, provision

I've stared into those sparrow eyes -
a being indefinable beams back
defying recognition. deified perhaps.
Uncanny as the void that's full
in a moment flecked gold
one momentary flicker of God.
  • East Mediterranean House Sparrow

For Melissa’s Poetics Prompt April Poems Bring May Centos we are writing one that combines some selected lines from dVerse contributors or a poem that includes one as inspiration and epigraph as here with Dora’s “Transience” poem, Title taken from the hymn by Civilla D. Martin, 1905 based on Matthew 10:29-31

34 thoughts on “His Eye is on The Sparrow”

  2. This is exquisitely drawn, Laura! Wow! I especially love; “So commonplace they congregate in crevices,”.. yes! 🩷🩷

  3. This is wonderful. I felt like I was staring into the sparrow’s eyes while I read. It is uncanny how the “void that’s full
    to brim with mystery” flows through everything, if we only look.

  4. Great title, Laura, and I love the way you interpreted Dora’s beautiful line. Your opening lines are also beautiful, my favourite lines reminded me why I am fond of pigeons:

    ‘So commonplace they congregate
    in crevices, chit-chat amongst the messages
    that fill the temple stones’.

  5. A beautiful line by Dora, and a beautiful poem by you. The sparrow so commonplace, but perhaps something more.

    (One of my favorite books is called The Sparrow. )

    1. thank you Merril – Dora gave me a great springboard for this poem

      p.s. had to look up the book you referred to – Jesuits in space – now that is novel!

  6. Such a beautiful line by Dora, it was one I was thinking about too. I love how you have interpreted the line is such a lovely way and I agree the title is wonderful.

  9. I love sparrows, and am so glad to be surrounded by that mystery you evoke so well, the mystery in Dora’s line. (K)

  10. You’ve taken my humble imagining and used it in a manner far surpassing its origin, Laura, the scene opening up before our eyes as a metaphor of God’s mysterious provision “amongst the messages/ that fill the temple stones.” A joyous poem heralding deliverance, a blessing.

    1. thank you Dora for your inspiration lines and following on I aimed to keep to the spirit of your original poem too so I really appreciate your comment

  14. Exquisite. You honoured Dora’s line with such elegance and depth of meaning. It was a pleasure to watch it unfold….and I’m loving sparrows even more.

  15. You took a beautiful line from Dora and added more beauty to it! I love sparrows, maybe because they have almost disappeared from our cityscape, so your poem is all the more special.

    1. thank you – my love of sparrows and Dora’s prompt helped me gel this poem

      p.s. sparrows left London too though they were the epitome of the city once – but here in this part of the UK they are thriving evidently much preferring the countryside now

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