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A bird in the house disturbs the order of things A bird in the house disturbs the order of things
(3 months later)
The unmistakable fan-snap of feathers announces the arrival of a visitor. A dark blur up the stairs, a spike of electric current. There is a palpable disturbance to the order of things when there’s a bird in the house; perhaps that’s why it’s associated with ill omen. The blackbird hops through the back door following a trail of breakfast cereal.The unmistakable fan-snap of feathers announces the arrival of a visitor. A dark blur up the stairs, a spike of electric current. There is a palpable disturbance to the order of things when there’s a bird in the house; perhaps that’s why it’s associated with ill omen. The blackbird hops through the back door following a trail of breakfast cereal.
We have become familiar to each other. We share the same space in the backyard where he forages, and we leave crumbs and titbits. It could be that he was born in the garden and has known us all his life, as did his parents. Now he has a nest and a brood of chicks to feed, we listen to him sing; we live in parallel and have retreated to our separate worlds, until now.We have become familiar to each other. We share the same space in the backyard where he forages, and we leave crumbs and titbits. It could be that he was born in the garden and has known us all his life, as did his parents. Now he has a nest and a brood of chicks to feed, we listen to him sing; we live in parallel and have retreated to our separate worlds, until now.
The blackbird’s wings have the flutter of panic as he tries to navigate through the house, crashing, swerving, to find a means of escape. He finds a room with a window to the freedom of the sky, but it’s shut.The blackbird’s wings have the flutter of panic as he tries to navigate through the house, crashing, swerving, to find a means of escape. He finds a room with a window to the freedom of the sky, but it’s shut.
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He sees another blackbird staring back at him from the glass. His reflection is a wild bird at liberty, with a territory and a family to defend, with a song he broadcasts from his treetops and a sky to fly through in any direction. The bird inside looks out from the alien room and is surrounded by superstition.He sees another blackbird staring back at him from the glass. His reflection is a wild bird at liberty, with a territory and a family to defend, with a song he broadcasts from his treetops and a sky to fly through in any direction. The bird inside looks out from the alien room and is surrounded by superstition.
In many cultures a bird in the house presages a coming change at best and, at worst, death. People once discerned signs of good or bad fortune through the behaviour of animals and, very often, when a wild creature transgressed cultural and psychological boundaries and entered a human dwelling it was thought of as badly ominous. This kind of belief comes from the ecophobic origins of civilisation and perpetuates the division between people and nature.In many cultures a bird in the house presages a coming change at best and, at worst, death. People once discerned signs of good or bad fortune through the behaviour of animals and, very often, when a wild creature transgressed cultural and psychological boundaries and entered a human dwelling it was thought of as badly ominous. This kind of belief comes from the ecophobic origins of civilisation and perpetuates the division between people and nature.
The blackbird in the bedroom begins to calm down and study his surroundings. We admire our uninvited guest and open the window. He flies for freedom, unconstrained by walls, reflections and beliefs, now having delivered his message, whatever it is.The blackbird in the bedroom begins to calm down and study his surroundings. We admire our uninvited guest and open the window. He flies for freedom, unconstrained by walls, reflections and beliefs, now having delivered his message, whatever it is.
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