unable to take off
from the ground
swifts let themselves fall
from a certain height
& begin to fly while plummeting

a young bird
had flown against the windowpane
& lay dazed
with outstretched wings
on the balcony

i folded its wings together
& picked it up
held it in my hands
felt its heart hammering then
threw it into the air

it shrieked
as it went shooting away

Translation: Nicholas Grindell