It’s said that life is suffering, yet birds
That come to my backyard don’t suffer so.
They seem quite happy, speaking, not with words,
But songs, of chirps and whistles – they don’t know
What lies in store for them – each day they go
About their business with no thought of what
May come. And when in winter, chill winds blow,
They don’t complain, nor when the wind blows hot.
Perched in a tree, the future matters not –
They sing, for they are blessed with tiny brains;
Have not the power to worry, plan or plot.
It’s true they look bedraggled when it rains,
But soon they shake their feathers and they’re dry.
And though they don’t think deeply…..they can fly.
{Photo – D.N. O’Brien}
…which makes up for it all. 🙂
Maybe their secret lies in their bird’s eye view.
Clever poem as always, Dennis.
(Have you watched the documentaries on certain kinds of raven, crows, and parrots? Amazingly smart!)
Yes, I have a smart budgie and I have experienced the “smartness” of crows (they can count to 3 or 4) but I don’t believe they have the smarts to concern themselves with the future, and that is a blessing in some ways. Crows are supposed to be self-aware but one who comes to my place is definitely not – there is an old mirror out the backyard and he pecks at it and then hops around the back to find the other crow. 😉
They can certainly be entertaining. You’re probably right about their lack of future planning. They’ve proven that crows have facial recognition though, and remember particular people who have threatened them – plus they communicate to other crows who the “bad” person is. They also appear to mourn their dead, like elephants, whales, and primates. But that’s a whole ‘nother subject. 😊 Sorry to digress.
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