Familiar Noises

a poem by Jan Oskar Hansen

It’s been raining,
no dogs bark yet,
the afternoon is sepia and subdued.
The freezer hums
and the kitchen tap drips,
everyday dins I that normally not notice
are welcome now after a dizzy spell,
helplessly shaken
and terrorised by cruel chest pain.

Mother sparrow is coming out from under a roof tile
and loudly thrills keeping other birds away.
Can hear her fledglings incessant peeping,
she and her mate have busy weeks ahead of them.
My brow is damp after the attack
and their commotion gives me comfort.