THE CAUSE OF IT ALL
The sky is blue.
The storm has passed
And rays of warm sunlight
Trickle through shimmering leaves of giant oaks
And twinkle in the moisture on the grass.
A sweet smell of cleanliness fills the air
Leaving a feeling of warmth and serenity
On such a fine spring day.
But what is this?
The peaceful scene is suddenly disturbed by shrieks of
anger.
Beneath the ancient oak stand two mockingbirds
Ready to fight to the death.
Why?
A few feet away
Stands the cause of it all,
The lady mockingbird
In boastful arrogance, head high, breast puffed.
Here are two knights in shining armor
Ready to engage in mortal combat
For the hand of the fair maiden.
Sounds of combat pierce the spring air
Like the war cries of ancient Huns.
But wait!
The commotion has disturbed someone,
The beast of the forest who was sleeping peacefully
In the tall grass a few yards away.
Slowly the old cat rises to his feet
And gazes at the scene taking place under the tree.
His hungry eyes fix on the unnoticing lady
Contentedly watching her two heroes
Skipping about delivering painful blows with pointed
beaks.
She does not see the crouching cat
As he creeps up slowly behind her.
He springs, she screeches,
And in one brief moment it is over.
The cat has devoured all but a few scattered feathers
And lies silently licking the blood from his paws.
The enemies are not fighting anymore.
They stopped and stood frozen
Watching the disappearance of their beloved prize.
They stand for a moment more, watching.
Then they take to wing
Side by side they fly off in the same direction.
The cat is asleep again.
Silent warmth spreads through the air once more.
And the sky is blue.
Mocking birds -- Frans Vischer
