The Writing Desk

Birds

"One sunlit day, the brown sparrow spies an open window in a mansion newly built. And down, down it flies to this window to look within this place of stone walls and trapped air. And within, a surprise."

"A surprise for his brother lies within, trapped within a cage. And happy are they, to meet once more after so many years. Landing upon a table, he gazes at his brother, calling to him"

And now his voice changes, low and dark "Oh brother, have you been trapped in this cage all these years? How lost you must have felt. Yet his brother replies" higher and squeakier now "Lost? For why would I be lost? I am fortunate indeed. Do you not see this palace of mine?"

Standing now, the man plays to his slow gathering audience. He turns his head, speaking to each one there in turn "Palace indeed. For a cage it was large, 10 feet across upon each side. And bars, bars of gold and perches of silver. Within, small shrubs and well kept lawns of grass, a tiny, exquisitely made founatin of marble. And the food, food that was specially chosen for such a beautiful sparrow, one unlike any other. His feathers, glossed dark black, the golden hue of his cages bar reflecting upon it. Yes, a palace indeed."

And now, the voice falls short, falls silent before it rises again, to continue "But his brother saw these gifts not, saw but the bars that held his brother within. Saw not but that the cages' door was locked shut. He saw not but these things and thus cried, Oh brother, what palace do you speak of? I see a gilded a cage, one that locks you within and takes away your freedom."

"Freedom scoffed the black sparrow. Freedom to be eaten, to live in fear. Freedom in a house of dried twigs and leaves, freedom to be cold when the winter comes."

"Freedom to choose when to live and when to die. To go where we will, to sleep where we can. Freedom, to choose. No brother, for the love that we once had, I shall not see you kept within. And so saying, he bounded to the cage door. And turning the latch, raising it opened it for his brother."

"Yet no movement, for his brother seeing the open cage sought not to fly out. Within his gilded cage he was king, without but another sparrow."

"Come brother, cried the brown sparrow. Come fly with me and remember the feel of the sun upon your skin."

"No. Leave me brother. I shall not leave my palace. I shall not let you take it from me in your jealousy. Go to your hawks and your snakes, your worms and your cold nights. Leave me for I hear my master coming."

"And yes, the master was coming. And gazing upon his brother, at last the brown sparrow realised the truth. That though his wings were unbroken, his brother would never fly. Quickly then, quickly he darted away through the open window into the sky beyond. And behind him, he left his brother within his cage of gold and silver, the door opened but the shackles unbroken"

"Fly away he did that brown sparrow. Into the blue skies, to greet the afternoon's sun. Fly away, to where he chose and where he desired, held by no shackles and no bars. Fly away, from the only brother he had known, to feel the rush of wind through his feathers and the touch of soil under his claws." And with that, he lets the story end. He listens to the voices murmur around him, few offering any kinds of concessions for his story. He did not expect any, for those who are shackled are loath to remember the chains that they have placed upon themselves.

posted by Tired @ 2:59 PM