(a true story)
The old bird once spent a lot of time in a big orange tree full of fascinating birds. She just listened quietly for a long time, entranced by all the different songs, Finally, encouraged by all that singing, she began adding her own small chips, daring to think that after such a long lonely journey, perhaps she’d found a place to stay and sing.
That’s why it was a bit of a shock when she found herself nudged off her branch by some of the bigger birds, who apparently did not care for her kind chirpings.
It wasn’t the first time. She wondered when she would ever learn that there really aren’t any big beautiful trees where ALL birds are equally welcome. She knew full well the biggest birds with loudest squawk get to decide whose song is welcome and whose is not.
"So be it.", she muttered with a sigh, and went back to her gypsy bird life, always on the move hither and yon, vowing not to give in again to the dangerous yearning to belong anywhere.
She need to rest while first, so when someone told her about a small pond nearby, it sounded good to her. Might as well put the webbed feet to good use.
The welcome was so warm as to be a bit disconcerting, but she thanked all politely, folded her wings and settled in to observe the wildlife and vegetation.
There was a lot of it for such a small pond. Beautiful water lilies floated serenely, tall reeds gave a home to blackbird nests. Flippy tailed ducks and very proud geese, and even egrets were plentiful. . There were ancient turtles with very wise eyes, many sleek and beautiful fishies of all kinds and colors, and even some big mouth bass. Of course, everywhere you looked, there were frogs and toads of all sizes and shapes.
The blend of pond sounds was very interesting. The chirps, quacks whistles and songs, sometimes soft, sometimes loud, the glub and splash of fishies, the croaking of many fine voiced frogs, backed by the whisper of fresh breezes and roar of occasional harsh winds, and always, the sound of water breathing life into everything, all of it blended into a quite a comfort.
Which is probably why the ol bird is still hanging around here chirping like crazy.
And while she really doesn’t know the Boo Bird who owns this pond, or the SueHu Bird who works with him, she would like to find them and tell them she very much appreciates it being here.