—inspired by an article in The Guardian, At least 1,000 birds died from colliding with one
Chicago building in one day, by Aliya Uteuova (10.07.2023)
Chicago building in one day, by Aliya Uteuova (10.07.2023)
When songbirds strike my picture window
the single pane reflection
dispatches death
injury
and short-term shock.
I watch the ones stunned by the impact—
sparrows
chickadees
and the occasional oriole.
I wonder if their bodies will heal
wheel through future seasons free of fatality.
the single pane reflection
dispatches death
injury
and short-term shock.
I watch the ones stunned by the impact—
sparrows
chickadees
and the occasional oriole.
I wonder if their bodies will heal
wheel through future seasons free of fatality.
My foundation shakes
as I reflect upon the headline
photo of carcasses—
the thrush and warblers
placed atop a table
in gray and yellow alignment.
How many birds would be spared
if my human inhabitants
installed etched
fritted
or UV-coated glass?
How many more would survive
if they attached dots and dashes
patterns to potential hazards?
Like morse code—
Steer clear
winged warriors
we’re making things right
choosing to support
save avian lives.
Jeannie E. Roberts is a Midwesterner with roots in Minnesota and Wisconsin. She is the author of nine books, including her most recent full-length poetry collection, On a Clear Night, I Can Hear My Body Sing (Kelsay Books, 2025). She serves as a poetry editor for the online literarymagazine Halfway Down the Stairs, is an Eric Hoffer and a two-time Best of the Net award nominee, and finds joy drawing, taking walks, photographing nature, and spending time with loved ones.
panoply, a literary zine 