A fluffy-feathered bird, small, br to some a picture of br great loveliness br and rarest beauty br perched on a twig called hope br precariously above br a vulgar world so far below br ignoring pointing fingers br and their lusty expectations br of faith in true catastrophe br began to sing. br br She sang the most exquisite song, br a melody of sweet HELLO, br of hands that long br to touch and hold in warmth br the promise of just being there, br without the fanciful and vain br and, oh so plastic decorations. br The twig soon resonated sounds br and gained in strength, br it would not bend or crack br though its fragility was plain br for all to see. br br There was an ancient force br called by the soothing sounds, br it beckoned to the one br whose scruffy, feathered ears br were listening from far away br until all time and distance were, br suspended, once again. br br The little twig soon carried two, br as kindred spirits, br birds of so many feathers br and their tears.