We were visiting the Corinth Canal

When the accident happened

A small bird no bigger than a wren

Flew blindly into the rock face

And died instantly

Cora wept

And so did some other tourists

Especially those from Italy

And the USA

After some difficulty I located

The body of the unfortunate bird

And buried it beneath a bush

With a few lines of Sappho read

To accompany it on its journey

You may ask why I used her poetry

The answer is simple

As the only books of poetry

That are found near the canal

Are by this feminine poet