Given the length of the lines in this poem, we suggest reading it on a computer screen or in the landscape orientation on your phone. Even so, depending on the size of your phone, line breaks may occur that adversely affect the look and experience of the poem.

In order to view the poem as the author intended it to appear, we strongly encourage you to click on this link (which will take you to a PDF): In the Beginning

In the Beginning
Norbert Hirschhorn

was a certain bird, and the bird had a nearly inaudible chirp, and God saw it was
good. But the bird pleaded for recognition, identity, a sound other birds
would recognize and respect. All songs had been given out, none left, but
God took pity on this one last, tiny thing, and made its wings beat so fast
they hummed.

—
Norbert Hirschhorn is a public health physician, proud to follow in the tradition of physician-poets. He has published six collections, the most recent a bilingual Arabic-English co-translation with Syrian physician-poet Fouad M. Fouad, Once Upon a Time in Aleppo.

Know anyone who might appreciate reading Norbert’s poem?
Why not share the link to this page?

Have you read these poems:
Arches, Utah by Irena Praitis
Negative Space by Michael Riordan

Table of Contents