on the concrete, I found something with all the love left inside, that baby bird, it was still warm, I can’t forget her pink body, didn’t even have any feathers, she must have fallen from the nest and I almost stepped on her, I did, plump belly nice and full, good mother, kept her fed at least, I wonder if she’ll notice one of her little ones is missing, one less gaping mouth staring at her when she returns to the nest, she was already dead though, when I found her, must have snapped her neck on impact, and I never cry but I picked her up and cried because she was still warm, this little thing, I brought her body over to a planter, that’s the best I could do, no time for burial, I set her down so gently so softly because she’s still a baby, this small pink thing with her eyes still closed, and I covered her with leaves and flowers, I’m sorry baby bird, I’m sorry mamma, I have to go now, you did your best mamma and she still died, sometimes it happens that way, I promise all the rest will learn to fly, but how sad, to have your neck crushed on the concrete before you ever had the chance.