Of Babies

by

Paul E Sexton

"Don’t kill the baby pigeons!"
I heard Thais say to her mother.
She was having the house painted
and there was a nest with baby pigeons
up high in one corner.

The painter didn’t want to move them.
He was either scared that they would peck his face
or perhaps he also didn’t wish to harm the babies.
Either way
there was quite a bit of controversy
and they wouldn’t begin the painting.

There was talk of a professional bird rescue guy
but he probably wouldn’t bother with pigeons
being the bird equivalent of a rat.

I was asked to moved the nest,
but as a Buddhist
I refrain from harming or taking the life
of any living being.

I suggested that we simply paint around the nest.
That an unpainted spot
on our house
up high near the roof
was less important than the life
of any living being.
In the end
that is what they did.

One week later
we are both standing
in front of the dresser
dressing for work,
and in a moment of silence
we hear the morning song
of baby bird.

Thais smiles wistfully
and says in that little girl voice
" I’m sure glad they didn’t kill
those baby pigeons!"
" Me too sweetie"
I answer.

A hug
and a kiss
then off to work.
Driving away from a house
where we will soon have a baby
who will grow up safely
and someday point up to the unpainted spot
nest long gone
and ask why it is there.
I will gladly tell him.

NEXT?
Why don't you look at Written in January 2001
by: Francis Duggan
from: Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia

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