BABY BIRD by Dustie Meads

BABY BIRD

by Dustie Meads

BABY BIRD You were just an innocent, such a tiny thing but you taught me much. I watched you grow and learn, I watched you give love when I didn't know a wild little bird could do that. You were so dependant, and so verbally appreciative of my care that you made me love you. You hopped to me in anticipation of that care, and later, when you were free, you flew to me in the same anticipation. Often you weren't even hungry, you just flew to me to be close, to hear my voice. When you were hungry, you cocked your head and happily ate from my fingers...I was you momma bird. In turn, you were my responsibility, one that I cherished. I happily devoted much of my waking hours to loving you and caring for you, seeing that your needs were met. When the time came I rejoiced in your freedom and your ability to fly and spot just the right tree branches to alight on. You were free and growing more independant by the minute. I know that it wouldn't be long before you no longer needed me, that you would be joining the other wild birds and be totally free. I would miss you, but it was natural that you should learn to be a bird and I would be proud. Then tragedy stuck in the blink of an eye. How it happened I do not know. Maybe it was my voice that called you into the yard, into harms way, into the reach of the dog behind the fence. I wasn't aware, I wasn't thinking, I wasn't alert and for that I will always be sorry. Now you are flying free in another place, and hopefully you are happy. Please know that you are sorely missed in this place. You were a part of my life for such a short time..from the time I found you in the yard, a small pink baby bird with feathers only half grown till the time you were happily flying to the tops of 40 foot trees only 7 short weeks had passed. But in that time you hopped your way deep into my heart as if you had been a part of my life for such a longer time. The pain in my heart is sharp, the grief painful, the memories of you everywhere, the tears real. I know, in my mind, that you were only a little bird, but the pain of your passing is all encompassing right now. I so wanted to see you fly, to see you live a full and happy bird life, to breed and lay eggs or become a proud father and build a nest ...but now it's not to be. After your loss today, I stood for a while listening to the cries and songs of other birds in the trees. These past weeks I was attuned to only your cry, your song...but today I heard hundreds of you. I saw you flying from tree to tree in the faces of the real wild birds. They are still alive and free to fly to the tops of the highest tree in your place. I will continue to miss you Baby Bird...and will think of you often over the next days and weeks with sadness. But someday I hope the thoughts will bring a smile, remembering your dear ways. I hope that I'll be able to rejoice in the birdsong and the flight of others of your species and think sweet thoughts of you. Thank you for coming into my life, Baby Bird. I'm sorry you had to take flight from the world so soon. Please God, Bless and Keep Baby Bird and let him sit on your thrown from time to time will you? He was such a dear little bird.

Comments would be appreciated by the author, Dustie Mead