STORIES

the small bird sang a short song then stopped
"wow!"
the other forest animals exclaimed
it gave them chills and made them long for warm sunlight
the little bird grew quite proud
and sang a longer song of similar melody
then stopped and looked below
"amazing!"
"enthralling . . . truly"
the animals again praised him as they looked
for safe places to hide as night began to fall
they liked the thrill of being scared
and were anxious for his next dark song
the little bird held them in suspense
delightfully
as he hopped to lower branches
then flew to the smallest bush
and listened to their noisy chatterings to find out
what they wanted
exactly
in the next song he would write and produce
he listened long and hard and knew soon
what direction he would carry
his newest song
he sang loud and clear
but this time the animals were quite bored
with hearing another light adaption
of the same
initial
song
they once adored
didn't he have anything new?
he listened a little more to what they said they wanted
then wrote and rewrote a new song
until it was just perfectly how he wanted it
it had taken 6 long hours to write
so he was a little worried about what their response would be
for into this latest song he had put all the ideas
he could gather
that he cited as fine and interesting
he hoped this latest adaption of his favorite melody
would stir their hearts and intrigue their minds
after the song the listeners all gasped . . .
it was the most strange mixture of sounds they had ever heard
and yet, it still carried a hint of the melody
from the past
everyone was now tired of
the silently insulted little bird
climbed higher in the tree to where his nest was
but he could still hear their petty scoffings
he would not cater again to those ignorant animals
who didn't even know what they wanted!
he felt much freer now
he was no longer bound to their expectations
and he was completely joyous to embrace a new adventure
he had once heard a faint melody - different from any other
- a melody that gave him chills!
he flew out of his nest
and away from the tall pine tree he once felt sheltered
by he wanted this adventure
he needed a song that would direct him
rather than one he could control and understand
the first note brought tears to his eyes
he repeated it
then the next note, and the next . . .
this was the song he was made to sing
this was the first
all else grew silent and the sky seemed bigger and more beautiful
more peaceful
he was frightened by the melody that escaped his beak
and how he shivered
with the excitement of Spring
and grew vulnerable and tearful
as with the anguishes of Winter
at this beautiful song!
he heard notes he had never heard before
and just as he wondered how the stinging melody might end
he startled and finished the song
what would the next song be?
he thought of the creatures in the forest below
and how simple the songs had been . . .
almost as though sung by a caged bird
he thought over the choice he now had to make
his heart beat quickly
his eyes grew wild, yet calmed in their passion
by a peace unheard of below the trees
freedom was close, was on the horizon . . .
the first note pierced his depths
as he sang with compassion and overpowering innocence
unknown until this moment
what would the next note hold?
did he want to find out?
he made his decision
knowing he could not return or remake the choice
and flew towards the sunrise contented
by how final it felt
~~~

PSALM 32

What are you?