Sparrows, by Thomas McColl

A new type of sparrow, the sex-sparrow,
has started spiralling en masse out of sex shops,
and vigilantes –
claiming the escaping birds
are attacking women and children –
have been taking them down
with bows and arrows and sling-shots.

Problem is, these sex-sparrows
look exactly the same as ordinary sparrows,
and many people –
who’ve swallowed whole the vigilantes’ claims –
are taking no chances
and taking down any sparrows they see.

Unfortunately, it’s already too late to undo the damage done.
Virtually all sparrows – sex or otherwise – have now been killed,
and the great and terrible famine of censorship has already begun.