Fluctuations in the magnetic field had knocked him off course, so he told us and we believed him. No reason not to, for indeed we did have some serious bad weather those past few days. Thunderstorms tend to have a soothing effect on me. All that electricity in the air somehow makes me feel less alone. As if the atmosphere and I are suddenly kindred in spirit, physically connected in the turmoil of our minds. I'm pretty sure this sounds familiar to some of you. But for him, things were quite different.
He sat there, on our balcony, too exhausted to be afraid.
We took him, fed him, gave him shelter and only after two days I held him again. Trembling like a live wire, I could feel the strength of his body flowing through mine.
We took him out. He flew effortlessly from my hands, didn't stop to say goodbye, never looked back.
Yet I felt immense gratitude and all the kindness of the world washed over me, wordless and unsentimental. Nature can be caring, but it does not crave tears of gratification.
But perhaps it is so, that in our dealings with those we know nothing about, those who seemingly have nothing to offer us, we become unveiled.
THINKING ABOUT INTERSPECIES COMMUNICATION /// photograph SUMMER 025