Sweet Sensitivity

Deep within the forest, high up in a tree, lived a bird who sang from midnight to dawn. This tiny bird believed the tree was the only creature on earth who could love her, because it had no eyes to see with, so she never left it.

Many people loved the songs that came from the tree’s branches and many of them tried to lure the little bird down with handfuls of seed and cupfuls of nectar, but she would not come. She was so afraid that they would not like her songs if they could see her faded feathers and ruffled wings that she preferred to live alone along the ends of the topmost branches. Even when the other birds went to drink from the lily pond below, this one would simply sip the dew from the leaves and keep herself safely hidden in the arms of her lovely tree.

One night a new stranger walked under the tree and happened to hear the little bird singing. After that he came every day in the dark wee hours of the morning and listened to her songs. Soon the bird was so enamored with his presence that she began to venture just a little bit closer, but she never came close enough for him to see her.

Until the day she heard the most beautiful songs she had ever heard and forgot that she was afraid and old and faded. Hopping from branch to branch she finally found herself looking at another little bird with faded feathers and ruffled wings. She was not horrified at all. In fact, she fell in love with the little creature and the beautiful song it was singing.

Sitting under the shade of her tree for the very first time, the little bird was amazed when the stranger slowly closed his eyes, hiding what had only been her reflection. Then he reached out with one finger and turned off the recording of her song.

Smiling gently, he set her free.