THE SYMPHONY

THE SYMPHONY

By Farah Lawal Harris

The back yard filled with sound.

Birds of different species tweet as one.

Collaborating against a common enemy,

they fly swiftly from tree to tree,

then devise a plan to hide their babies under

evergreen hollies.

Suddenly, a hush falls over the yard.

A feral, grey cat slinks quietly across

the top of the wooden fence, searching.

The adult birds start screeching, a symphony

I imagine would be entitled “Get the Hell Away No.3”

The music drowns out the cat’s desire.

It retreats.

The parents swoop back down and collect their babies.

All seems to reset, until a tiny bluejay

hops out from under the holly tree.

Unable to fly, it was left behind.

Life can be cruel sometimes.

We fill a shallow container with water

and bring it to the little bird to drink.

It sips, shivering.

A few days later,

it has no breath left to breathe.

I bury it under leaves,

pour libation in its memory.

The back yard fills with sound.

Nature continues. Life goes on.

Every time I see a bluejay fly,

I consider it a miracle.