Perching, feeding, sparrows nest in the evening light.

Suddenly: crashing, banging, shouting

millions of sparrows take flight in fear.

Pots and pans clang together below

across the land the shouting continues.

The sparrows stay airborne, too frightened to land.

One by one they fall, dead, exhausted.

After the cheering of the people, the silence of the birds.

Buildings stand in eerie dark

and rain pours down from the sky.

From the night sounds an inhuman wail,

while in the sea empty boats drift by.

Lightning flashes white and stark

revealing the source of the cry:

shining metal body and sharp tail-

it screams and no one is left to know why.

Arching chambered hall

ten raised gold podiums stand,

ten shining gods sit.

Shouting, clamor, disquiet-

arguing the fate of Man.