by Mayaenfrance

Created on: June 05, 2010

Where Birds come from

Blackness filled the world and there was nothing, for many years; the blackness reined.

Then from the earth, slowly, pushing through the hard ground and rock, Trees began to form. Their small green shoots finding their way up and into the world and with the shoots came light and the Sun smiled her bright smile, held her hand out to Moon and together they watched as Autumn and Winter poured water to enrich the soil and encourage the Trees to grow, the oaks, maples, cherry, fig, buckeye, mulberry, beech… just to name a few… Spring brought forth the flowers and sang magic; Summer filled the world with warmth and contentment. 

The Trees grew, they flourished, nurtured by the Seasons the leaves became large and full, seeds filled the blossoms, Sun smiled her bright smile and Moon sang his sweet song, the winds blew and the rains gently fell.  The Seasons danced at such a wonderful sight.

The Seasons in their youth were slow to find their path and like most siblings, fought about who would get to be first and who got to do what and when (kids!)…  Sun, through the clouds and the rains, frowned and tried to help the Seasons find their way asking Moon for advice… (parents!)  Summer wanted to flaunt his sunny days and hot temperament; he fought hard with Winter, who loved snowball fights and banging on his thunder and lightning drums. In this way, the Trees started to feel parched and grew weak.  Spring and Autumn stood side by side and wondered what they could do to help the Trees.

Just when Sun and Moon where at their wits end (oh teenagers!) what to do, what could they do?

Spring, counselled by Moon and supported by Sun, spoke gently to Autumn and together they devised a plan to save the Trees.

Autumn went to the Trees and with a whispered breeze told them to be strong and know that in all things Spring, Autumn, Sun and Moon were there and would not forsake the Trees.  The Trees who were almost out of breath listened and waited, Autumn came and told them that before the next snow fall he would let his winds blow and that the Trees must let go of all of their leaves and remember them and know that Spring would hold them in her thoughts and that her magic was powerful and not to despair…  The Trees sighed; they were tired and needed rest.

Autumn sent his powerful winds blowing; the Trees bent and in one long collective whoosh they released their leaves, dried and frail by the tormenting Summer and harsh Winter.  In this huge gust, Spring, Sun, Moon and Autumn sang and when the Trees looked about at their leaves flying away they saw that they had become all the birds that in habit the earth; the falcons, the emu, the seagull, the sparrow, the tit, robin with its red breast, woodpecker, the toucan, the egret, the thrush, the flamingo, the swan… just to name a few...  And the Trees knew that their leaves were safe.

Sun and Moon sang a lullaby to the Trees and bade them sleep and remember that each year after harsh Winter’s rage, Spring would be there with the birds and in this way the Trees would once again wake and bring forth new leaves, the birds would find their way home and for a moment they would once again know eachother.

This is how birds came to be…how the seasons learned to take their turns… and Sun and Moon watch over us all…

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