This evening I was feeling a bit inspired so I thought I'd head over to the studio and see if anything would come of it. I get there only to find out that the building was locked up. A little discouraged, I decided to make the best of the really nice evening and take a walk around campus.
With nowhere in particular in mind, I just went where my feet carried me and eventually wound up behind the library. I don't know how many people actually know about that space but it really is beautiful and very quiet back there. I took a seat on on of the ledges that overlooked the park and just sat for a while. I watched a few people down in the park and committed to memory the colors of the sky.Eventually, I noticed one of the hawks perched up on the balcony of second floor Moore. I watched him for a long time just sitting there taking in the park. We were kind of the same in that moment and I began wondering what was going through the hawks mind as it sat there starring out at its world. How far has he really traveled or was this small space all he knew? It was a strange thought but I couldn't help but be mesmorized by this creature.
Then I noticed that perched on the balcony above the hawk was a small little blue jay. It was making all sorts of noise and I briefly wondered why it had to break the comfortable silence of this nice evening and I'm pretty sure the hawk was feeling the same way. I almost felt a bit worried for the blue jays sake because surely that hawk could easily end its life. With time the hawk suddenly spread its wings and took off, landing just overhead on the library roof in a manner that clearly stated jesus christ blue jay, shut the hell up. I was amused to find that the blue jay followed but kept a safe distance away still chirping obnoxiously. It was funny. Was the smaller bird really yelling at this hawk? What the hell was this ballsy little blue jay thinking?
They continued with these interactions for a long time. The blue jay would yell, get a little braver and move closer and then quickly dodge as the hawk tried to peck some sense into him. It was just the two of them and I wondered; what brought them together like that? Why did the hawk just sit there and take it when he could clearly 1. out fly or 2. easily get rid of the nuisance? They were an interesting pair.
I watched a little longer but eventually the light began to fade and I could feel the bugs having a field day on my ankles so I left; the two still bickering on top of the library from what I could hear. I don't know why I felt compelled to write about these birds. I guess there was just something so human... no, not human, because that would imply that emotions and relationships are strictly a human occurrence... so I guess... something familiar and relatable about them. It was an odd and satisfying connection of sorts.
I'm not even upset about the whole studio thing anymore.
