I sit in silence, listening to the birds complain at each other.
After a few moments, I notice they’ve emerged a little bit into the stillness as I write. Only the roar of passing cars announces a forceful human presence.
The red shouldered blackbird male comes bolting out towards me and almost makes me jump. He turns sharply to my right and lands to forage in the grass by the trail. I go back to writing as he forages, and we ignore each other.
Other humans come barreling down the trail, blathering loudly and imposing themselves on his turf. He freezes. Finally his nerve fails him and he bolts for the tree behind me.
Exasperated, he shrieks his annoyance at the passing motormouths, but they of course pay no mind.
