Why A Bird Will Migrate
By Gabrielle Tibbetts
Long ago, before man populated all the earth, there lived one little boy, and he felt nothing. Created from a cloud, he only knew of the heavenly body he came from, high above all that roamed the Earth. However, the child fell to Earth from the cloud he had perched on for a millenia, knowing not one thing of the world below. The firmament looked down upon the boy favorably, and allowed their beloved creation to gently grace the below and learn how to be human.
When the boy arrived, every living being rejoiced and chanted tunefully, for a human had never walked the Earth before. Each animal explained to the boy who they were and what they knew from living. Bear went to the boy, bellowing deep,” I am bear. I rule the wood and mountain. I know that Mother Earth will change over many a century, and will never truly end.” Rabbit went next, chattering,” I am Rabbit! I have learned to be quick and brave to live a good life.”
But when the meeting adjourned, the boy left the gathering contemplating everything each animal told him, dumbfounded by even the very plain topic. Therefore, every animal met together late in the night and decided to allow one animal to teach the boy about life, emotion, and true human nature. They were all quiet, each unable to help the boy learn everything about life. However, Bird kindly interjected the gathering, wanting to take on the challenge of teaching a human to be human. With that, every animal agreed that Bird could do it, and he left immediately to teach the boy.
Bird found the young human and told him, "I will teach you how to live and thrive on our planet, and you will learn humanity.” Day by day, Bird taught the boy an elementary concept of life in an anecdote or tale. The boy learned of joy, excitement, anticipation, boredom, calm, and pride. Bird made the boy help every animal in a little chore, and he learned to be kindhearted, friendly, tender, and accepting. And, by chance, the boy learned love from time with Bird, each feeling like a brother to one another.
But one day Bird told the boy a terrible thing. “I have to leave you for a time, but know that all will be revealed upon my arrival back.” Bird left, and the boy felt and experienced an array of emotion and thought. For many a moon, the boy felt lonely, unhappy, bitter, anger, and dread. Every kind action he had done for an animal became greed, envy, fury, irritation, and vengeance. The day Bird left became the day he abandoned hope, reliance, and peace, and in that place fear, woe, hurt, guilt, regret, and longing were placed. The boy felt everything.
After the weather changed and winter left, Bird appeared from above to the boy in the early morning light. Every emotion poured out in a frenzy of ‘why’ and ‘how’ to Bird. Bird told him,”A human, nor any creature our world, will ever go without all that you have felt in my leaving. Know that will embody the life of all.”
Every year, every bird will migrate, to remind humanity that we are human, and that no one can go without the emotion of life.
By Gabrielle Tibbetts
Long ago, before man populated all the earth, there lived one little boy, and he felt nothing. Created from a cloud, he only knew of the heavenly body he came from, high above all that roamed the Earth. However, the child fell to Earth from the cloud he had perched on for a millenia, knowing not one thing of the world below. The firmament looked down upon the boy favorably, and allowed their beloved creation to gently grace the below and learn how to be human.
When the boy arrived, every living being rejoiced and chanted tunefully, for a human had never walked the Earth before. Each animal explained to the boy who they were and what they knew from living. Bear went to the boy, bellowing deep,” I am bear. I rule the wood and mountain. I know that Mother Earth will change over many a century, and will never truly end.” Rabbit went next, chattering,” I am Rabbit! I have learned to be quick and brave to live a good life.”
But when the meeting adjourned, the boy left the gathering contemplating everything each animal told him, dumbfounded by even the very plain topic. Therefore, every animal met together late in the night and decided to allow one animal to teach the boy about life, emotion, and true human nature. They were all quiet, each unable to help the boy learn everything about life. However, Bird kindly interjected the gathering, wanting to take on the challenge of teaching a human to be human. With that, every animal agreed that Bird could do it, and he left immediately to teach the boy.
Bird found the young human and told him, "I will teach you how to live and thrive on our planet, and you will learn humanity.” Day by day, Bird taught the boy an elementary concept of life in an anecdote or tale. The boy learned of joy, excitement, anticipation, boredom, calm, and pride. Bird made the boy help every animal in a little chore, and he learned to be kindhearted, friendly, tender, and accepting. And, by chance, the boy learned love from time with Bird, each feeling like a brother to one another.
But one day Bird told the boy a terrible thing. “I have to leave you for a time, but know that all will be revealed upon my arrival back.” Bird left, and the boy felt and experienced an array of emotion and thought. For many a moon, the boy felt lonely, unhappy, bitter, anger, and dread. Every kind action he had done for an animal became greed, envy, fury, irritation, and vengeance. The day Bird left became the day he abandoned hope, reliance, and peace, and in that place fear, woe, hurt, guilt, regret, and longing were placed. The boy felt everything.
After the weather changed and winter left, Bird appeared from above to the boy in the early morning light. Every emotion poured out in a frenzy of ‘why’ and ‘how’ to Bird. Bird told him,”A human, nor any creature our world, will ever go without all that you have felt in my leaving. Know that will embody the life of all.”
Every year, every bird will migrate, to remind humanity that we are human, and that no one can go without the emotion of life.