avatarEvan May

Summary

A father reflects on the concept of freedom and home while caring for his newborn, drawing a parallel between his own situation and a sparrow's futile attempts to enter his house through a window.

Abstract

The author describes a moment of quiet reflection as a sparrow repeatedly hits the window, seemingly trapped in its quest for sanctuary. Inside, the author gently rocks his swaddled child, contemplating the paradox of freedom. He muses on the idea that while some pursue freedom by leaving their homes, true freedom can also be found within the confines of a loving home. The window serves as a metaphorical barrier between the outside world and the secure, loving environment inside, where the author and his family reside. The sparrow's plight mirrors the author's own sense of entrapment in the open space of life, as he too seeks the comfort and security that home represents.

Opinions

  • The author suggests that freedom can be found within the bonds of love and family, contradicting the common notion that freedom means being unbound and unrestricted.
  • There is an appreciation for the simple, domestic moments that define parenthood and home life, as seen through the author's contentment in rocking his child.
  • The bird's struggle to find entry symbolizes a yearning for connection or belonging, which is a universal human experience that the author identifies with.
  • The author implies that the concept of 'home' is not merely a physical space but a state of being where one feels safe and free, regardless of the presence of literal walls and windows.
Photo by Peter F. Wolf on Unsplash

The Bird and the Window

This morning a sparrow taps my window Trapped in open field and empty air Imprisoned on the outside Seeking entry to my home

And I am on the inside, coffee in hand with my foot Rocking you in a monkey chair while your mom’s in bed You bound tightly in your swaddle And wrapped in my love

The flipside of the window contains the world Where the bird flies and some cry freedom With journeys into jail cells available, and some Leaving home to find a home

But if freedom could be enclosed in walls Given an address, personified in people Then freedom has a residence here It binds the three of us in love

Soon I’ll walk through the door Trapped like the sparrow in open space Imprisoned on the outside Tapping the window until returning home

Poem
Home
Love
Family
Poetry
Recommended from ReadMedium