BOWERBIRD

In National Geographic I read about the Bowerbird
Spending years of his short life collecting trash -
Shattered bits of autoglass, bendy straws, rodent bones, pop tops, et cetera -
And with this stash of garbage, he begins to weave.

A carefully flattened gum wrapper
With split sequins and lost lego
Become silver and gems sparkling
In the dusty desert sun.

Colors alternate in pleasing patterns
Blue comb, white button, blue clothes pin, white bottle cap.
He has a natural eye for symmetry
And an ear, as well.

He composes a song to accompany his visual art
With voice and instruments of his making
Clink - a penny on stones
Swish - a coffee stirrer through sand

Rehearsing his song, rearranging his elements,
His life is spent weaving
An elaborate bower to woo his Beloved.

Surprised

I realize that I have just learned from this bird
About God
and myself.

We all create beauty for the sake of love.


by Lori Martin, 07/2010

National Geographic article: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/07/bowerbirds/morell-text.html