Spanish Sparrows Nesting in the Canarian Date Palm - Mozaga

little more than dried leaves, their nest

balanced high above in the Canarian Date Palm

among the dead fronds

which hug closely to the trunk

like a scruffy, shaggy sweater

for three weeks they took turns -

their bed hidden high above

whilst the tawny pair 

plump as cupcakes 

tucked their eggs in the warm gaps between

until one afternoon the first 

passerine fledgling appeared

and before he had time to comprehend -

pushed off into the great unknown

and next, two other scraps, chestnut crown, grey cheeks

then emerged to this dry, dusty world 

where all season, the sun had shone brightly

and the bougainvilleas had shocked us 

with garlands of royal purple and red -

in proud regal notes of pageantry