As a child, he had always felt close to birds.
They revealed a world to which he belonged.

As a 6-year-old and then a teenager
and later as a father and teacher,

he never stopped hoping the birds
would not fly off when he approached.

He blamed himself: if he were
a better person, at peace with himself,

the birds would perch on his hat.
He scolded himself, such foolish thoughts!

Then one day, a bird did come to him
but only to drive him from her nest.

It made him sad. Returning home,
he slept the sleep of the dead,

but when he woke in the morning,
the birds were singing for his life.