Welcome to Nightingale and Sparrow

Nightingale & Sparrow is a literary magazine and small press featuring poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, and photography.

Nightingale and Sparrow aims to soar through written and visual arts. We want to publish work that takes the earthly and makes it ethereal. Send us your deepest thoughts, most poignant memories, and flights of fancy.

“It was the nightingale, and not the lark, That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear. Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate tree. Believe me, love, it was the nightingale.” —Romeo and Juliet, 3.5

“Little sparrow, little sparrow, precious fragile little thing; little sparrow, little sparrow, flies so high and feels no pain.” –“Little Sparrow,” Dolly Parton

These quotes are included to showcase the inspiration behind our title; all rights belong to the appropriate parties. 

“Nightingale and Sparrow”

Juliette Sebock

Eternal optimist
flying high above the pain,
floating over orchard walls,
away from life, away from here,

banished to the sky
in a prison of restraint,
free from orchard branches, jailhouse bars,
in flight where poachers, gatekeepers can’t reach you.

Still, never still,
fleeing the fears you should have left behind;
nightingale and sparrow in an urgent race
against life, against fear, against time.