spontaneous birthings
head fluff when illuminated can reveal some very special thingsArchive for nature
morning kindness
One of the happiest moments for me is to witness an act of kindness. I was at the bus stop trying my best to be patient, and across the street where lies a Korean-owned (you can tell by the name) mechanic shop, out walked an Asian man (the owner?) all bundled up in dark clothing that mechanics always wear, cradling something in his hands. A small group of birds were chipping away at the salt on the driveway. The man threw them food and the birds scuttled about happily. It makes me smile to see people take care of the earth’s animals.
Sometimes I get caught up in the superficial characteristics of a moment. When I saw the man feed the birds (he fed them twice by the way, as if he felt sorry for some birds too slow to grab a morsel), I thought, “See, that’s Asian people for you – taking care of the vulnerable.” In an early post, when I first started blogging, I discussed my observed mannerisms of Asian people. Maybe it’s my being adopted that increases my fascination towards a people with whom I share a face but none of the culture and language. Maybe it’s the emphasis of race that saturates the American experience in general.
I felt like I shared something with that man feeding the birds. My observations of him somehow became linked to his intent of kindess, the way my heart warmed thinking of the birds relieved to find food on a cold day was like an extension of that man’s heart.
a day’s revelation
Blackbirds are most active on cold, bitter days. They flock to the treetops as if in initiation to a mystery familiar only to nature and its winged creatures. Perhaps its the biting wind that enthuses them to circle around in simple formations, as if they are a flock of butterflies, careless and at play.
It is always during wintertime that I notice the blackbirds’ dramatic dances across a cloudless sky. They squeal with delight as they ride on the biting wind, as if the cold is even too much for them. It is a beautiful sight and fills me with awe. How wondrous to pause and observe such beauty while I am cursing the cold. It makes the shivering worth it – just for this moment of peace. And then when the moment could not be even more inspiring, I see the blackbirds perch on bare branches and I walk beneath them, peek at their bodies spot the limbs above, and am filled with immense gratitude that I am present and simply, alive.
But, as I continue to walk, I notice a small, dirtied and wet body of an animal. It is a squirrel, dead for about a day, its head slung over to one side in an unnatural way, its lower half of body exposed. I understand why the blackbirds circle above. It is their mealtime. The peaceful moment is ruined. I skirm as I walk by; it has always been an instinct to skirm when I see roadkill.
The blackbirds continue their celebration. And soon, I forget about the squirrel and fall back into loving the vision of blackbirds dancing.
