Filthy bird laying in our yardnfour chambered heart never beat so hardnDad said she was almost gone,nupside down out on our lawn.nAnd I could hold her in a shoe box,nif she heals she could be mine.nAnd if I cannot save her spirit,ndad says I should break her spine.nShaking, brilliant, silver-black wings,nJesus Christ, what prayers these tears sing.nnChorusnWear your hearts out on your sleeves fornstarlings... starlings.nOf the least of all of these,nare starlings... starlings.nnTwo years pass, I pumped the chamber,nfull of air to shoot the birds.nHarmless game to hit them slightly,nto scare them off, in other words.nStarling falling to her death,npiercing copper steals her breath.nSee the flutter in her breast,nstarving babies in her nest.nRaise their souls up to the sky,nwhy must helpless creatures die?nnChorusnnBridgenEvery breath has sacred weight,nevery life has some design.nCan we kill and also save,nspeak of life, while digging graves?nnChorus