In “The Feed,” the 9th poem by Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, from English Book III for 1st Year students, a poignant scene unfolds as a mother sparrow holds a tiny grain of millet in her beak. Her young ones, minuscule and fragile, are characterized by their entire bodies resembling beaks, crying out for nourishment.
The poem raises a poignant dilemma for the mother sparrow, who faces the impossible task of deciding which of her ten young ones to feed with the single grain she possesses. The verses evoke a sense of maternal sacrifice and the universal struggle for survival. Through metaphors of atom-splitting and grain division, the poem reflects on the intricate balance of life and the harsh realities of existence, ultimately questioning our ability to make such crucial decisions when confronted with limited resources.