Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Requiem for a Robin?

T H O U G H T S — While taking photographs late this morning, I noticed this robin under my small granite bird bath in my newest shaded garden space. At first I hoped s/he was "resting" but after a few hours, I suppose she's actually quite sick. 

It has been an interesting afternoon. I can see this part of the yard from where I sit at my computers. A few other robins have flown down around her/him, and then backed away slowly, not flying until they were at least fifteen feet away. It was like a solemn processional. Even the young deer that has been seen here recently came out of the woods and stood for a few minutes about twenty feet away from the bird. The squirrels that love the tree right nearby haven't been seen either, a strangely quiet afternoon. 

While I profess to know absolutely nothing about our souls or our own place in the univers, I feel equally that we can't know anything about other creatures souls either. And by soul I mean the conscience, that which can acknowledge existence. It really seems like other creatures are paying homage to this bird, and I can only feel honored that s/he picked my newest 'tranquil space' to have her last visitors.

If that's what's going on. I could be totally off-base, and projecting, lol. 


Young female deer that has been seen here frequently. 

7 comments:

  1. POOR LITTLE THING.

    GRANNY

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  2. it's raining right now, the first time in a few weeks. it smells nice when it's raining.

    I took the photo of the robin down, it felt too paparazzi to me!

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  3. YOU'VE GOT A POINT. THE DEAR NEEDS A BALE OF HAY.

    GRANNY

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  4. i was just without internet service for 3 hours. i almost freaked out. i hate not being connected! we had a 2 second power outage and it took everything a long time to get working again. oy.

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  5. I almost got ran over by one of those things making my way up a foothill in college. They let off a not so lovely smell in the morning, if you know what I mean : )

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  6. I thought of this story when I looked out the window this a.m. and saw two turtle doves "resting". Both were facing what I thought at first was a bit of branch debris or part of a nest...but then I realized it was a small bird huddled on the edge of the sidewalk and they were keeping watch over it. My day got busy and it wasn't until I let the dog out later and he discovered the poor little lifeless thing that I realized what had taken place. It was like watching parents stand guard over a sick child. It was heart wrenching to watch..and it seemed almost as though it was a very private moment that I had stumbled upon. Like you, I may be projecting, but that is how it felt.
    mare

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  7. Thanks, Mare. We'll probably never know for sure, but somehow I just don't believe that humans are the only creatures that 'feel' and have existential thoughts.

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