I was only eight years old and it was summertime on the farm
When I happened upon something that caused me great alarm
It was a baby sparrow that had somehow fallen from the nest.
I gently picked the little birdie up and held her to my breast.
The poor, wee critter, her beady eyes were wide with fear
And she certainly would have died without her mother near.
I wanted to return her to her nest high up in the tree
But I feared she would be rejected after being touched by me.
I'd heard in school that a baby bird, once touched by human hands,
Would be abandoned by her mother. She wouldn't stand a chance!
So I carried her into the house and asked my father what to do.
He said, "You must nurse her back to health. I'm afraid it's up to you."
So I went and found a shoebox and filled it up with cottonballs
And to simulate her natural home, I taped leaves to all the walls.
I wasn't sure what dad meant by "nurse" so I got the dictionary.
It said, "To nurse at the breast; to suckle." This was getting scary!
I looked at the little bird and it seemed so small and weak
But I didn't like the idea of putting my nipple to that beak.
Besides, I didn't see the point. I was a boy, for heaven's sake!
And nipples on boys had to be some kind of terrible mistake.
But my father's words rang in my ears. What was I to do?
"You must nurse her back to health, my son. It's up to you."
So I picked up the helpless creature and slowly lifted up my shirt.
She clamped right on. Yow! It's an understatement to say it hurt.
But the restoration of her health was fixed resolutely in my mind.
And I learned a valuable lesson - sometimes it's painful to be kind.
I gradually grew accustomed to the pain - very stoical and stony
And my nipples resembled partially masticated slices of pepperoni.
After a month or so, my little birdy finally stood up on wobbly feet.
And I thanked the Lord she'd no longer have to suckle at my teet.
I looked at my ravaged nipples and thought, "Wow! Mine work, too!"
Unaware that it was blood, not milk, that saw the sparrow through.
Honorable winner
Adding your comment:
Excellent word choice and rhyming in this. There are a few places where commas are needed, particularly in the 2nd stanza. This is a really good write and I thank you for sharing. La x 
Hahaha! Good one, Mark 
You, Sir, crack me up...
.......anyone wanna nurse me back to health?......ummmmm Mark......I dont care for your torn and tattered nipples though....LOL.......love the story.....you did well ha ha...
