A bird flies into our garden
making a very flappy sort of a landing
on the grass.
It cocks its head on one side,
listens intently
and then drills down
into the hard ground.

I watch with interest.
This bird is new to me –
what sort of bird is it?
Dark brown,
the size of a startling
and dumpy in appearance.
Hmmmmm …

The bird turns to face my direction.
I see a dark brown,
speckled breast
and a sharp brown beak.
And in an instant
I know exactly
what bird this is –
it’s a female blackbird
without a tail!

Aww!!!
My heart goes out
to this wee bird
and yet
I’m filled with admiration.

This bird isn’t wasting time
lamenting
its very practical absence of a tail
and all of the elegance
that a tail would bring.
Instead
she is getting on with life –
adapting to her predicament
and successfully rearing her young.

Lord,
next time
life throws a spanner in the works
and I start to feel sorry for myself
remind me
of that wee blackbird –
I just feel that I have
so much to learn
from her! © Claire Murray, 14th June 2020