BIRDS Dear Aparna, I will narrate a story of the little birds which happened some months back.

I was trying to clean up the side wall where the beetle plant had climbed up useful to no one. I was thinking that during external white washing anyway this plant had to go. To the left of the plant there was a neem tree that had grown of its own into a small tree. While I was pulling the beetle plant which was practically inaccessible, it was taken out in pieces practically with poor visibility and accessibility. While I was in the finishing act on top of a small ladder, I heard some whistle like shrieks and I felt it was a bit weird beyond the perception to a busy mind. The beetle plant in pieces lay on the ground and while clearing the beetle (weed like plant growth) and thrown outside; I saw a foliage of few fresh green beetle leaves closed by a sticky substance, suggesting some insect probably the wood ants had made a nest like place. However after throwing this out, somehow with some curiosity I opened it up to be shocked to see some very small bird like creatures just born and needed further incubating type of care by its parent caretakers. Then when I suddenly saw near the neem tree above I could recognize there were fleeting moments suggesting that they were indeed very small little birds and in all possibility it was these birds that were making the sound preventing me from dismantling the little nest made out of the beetle leaves. The little nest had earlier been quiet secure because the beetle plants were alive and green and remained sufficiently camouflaged from other nosey creatures the cats , crows and humans. I suddenly remembered a poem written on them earlier. (Please read below). The end is written after the poem. EXPRESSION. From where does the power of expression come..? It comes to us from our experience, the knowledge gained over the years, the inner urge of expressing oneself, the desire to reveal the picture of a thing one has witnessed or felt, and the ability one possesses to do so. Early in the morning on rare occasions when I come to the balcony standing for a while when the morning mist is little birds chirping away thither, at one time to a beautiful strange feeling of just vanishing I see three or four merrily and streaking across hither and perching on a delicate plant stalk or close red flower which has just blossomed. A quietness comes over me, a peace, a

sort of tranquility and I shudder a little with delight, a feeling that is of rare occurrence in this world of unpredictable changes. Immediately one thinks from where does this beauty come from, which makes us feel serene, our hearts full and content, a transient elevation of one's mind and spirit and a strong thirst to remain such for long. On looking back is it

the sweet chirping of the cute little birds with its fleeting movements, its desire to be near a flower and pecking at it ( what for do we know?) makes the whole thing beautiful? Is it our minds natural response that gets triggered off by merely witnessing this beauty and seemingly the mind falls into a trance? Does our past knowledge remind us on this, the creative aspect of our nature infinitesimal it may be and the Creator behind these. Why not then our minds see in every creature, the plants the surroundings which we see in the waking state, this beauty call it inner or intrinsic beauty and makes us filled with joy all the time? How is that even a short period of such experience charges us to great heights the experience of which will forever remain hidden in our hearts. Oh God! What is the play of yours, which we fall for like bees attracted to a flower for its nectar? Where is the beauty in us, that we too like these little birds can cause a flutter of happiness to our fellow people and the surroundings be it animals or even nature? Oh! God, please reveal this secret if we may call so, give us that humility, that knowledge, that spirit to act, that contentment which would make every act of us beautiful.

Then , some how I salvaged the birds and I felt they are safely born. The details I am not writing now but by Gods Grace I was lucky to notice this and revive their life. The little birds had worked day in and day out further on the beetle foliage inside which the little ones were nested. Their moments were fleeting done under total secrecy not visible to any of the outside creatures; but I had sensed that they were on their job. One day as a present given to me; I saw the left out lying in the ground which was made visible to me; the photograph of which I am showing below.

The message :- Be sensitive and kind to all, as that is all we can give to the world, all is sharing and caring, and come out of the nest of ignorance and enjoy the free world just as these little birds live a life without any preconceived notions.

SUNDARESAN.