According to Chinese astrology,
I was born in the year
of the Rooster, but these days
my way is that of the little sparrow
--coffee-brown back-feathered
--white under bellied
--pebbled black neck
--delicate songbirds
I love them, legended
for their resilience and adaptability
They remind me to embrace change
the same way they thrive whether on a farm or in the city
--I must also adapt to reshaping
--my body’s revised landscape
--find new ways to soar
--elegantly
I love them for their bravery
--to hop and chirp and sing in the midst of adversity
--to ward off evil spirits
--to lift their heads in search of hope
--to live each sundrenched moment
Previously published in Quartet Journal, Winter 2026, volume 6, issue 1.