little love

On my walk home from work today, I found a little sparrow that could not fly.  It was chirping pitifully at the curb of a walkway, unable to move.  I cooed at it for a while, and then picked it up gently and carried it home.  After a few minutes, it escaped, and flew into the sky so beautifully, I thought that it was perfectly fine.  But in a few seconds, it plummeted to the ground, flailing.  I managed to get it home, talking to it the whole time.  I gave it some water and seed, and put it in a makeshift cage: an overturned basket.

After a while, though, it became apparent that the little bird did not want to be there.  It kept trying to escape, and was almost hurting itself in the process.  With time, I decided that it would be best to put it back outside, and N and I put it near some bushes in the woods behind our building.  At the very least, it is more protected there than it was on the open walkway on which I had found it.

I thought of calling a vet, getting a proper cage, etc., but it seemed against the natural order of things.  I couldn't bring myself to kill it, either, although it will certainly die soon.  There is something to be said for the good Samaritain mentality, but some things should just run their course.  Little Bird is beautiful, and I hope and pray for it, but caring for it properly was both beyond my abilities and beyond my responsibility.  It is more important for me to spend my time and energy on myself, N, and the people I love.  I have no shortage of love, especially for the little living things, but I do lack omnipotence.

Happy Valentine's day to all, no matter if you're giddy or the day is bittersweet.