Sparrow! O my humble sparrow! where are you now? br aghast at the speed of your declining numbers br cries my heart for not sighting you dear! br Rare is your presence even in villages br Where did you vanish leaving us in anguish br br I recall the times back to a couple of decades br In flocks and flocks you dotted the skies br Perching on the trees perching on roof tops br Chirping and tweeting mocking and mating br br Nests you built in the shape of a tunnel br On bushes and trees and high tension wires br A treat to watch you reaching home in flocks br A feast to watch you feeding your little ones br br Taken for granted your presence amongst us br Little we imagined your pace of depletion br Whom to blame? Difficult to answer br Our heart craves eyes lust to see you back again in strengthbr br Somanathan Iyerbr br