I awoke one recent morning to the voice of a robin. And as I lay in bed listening to his cheerful song I was reminded of a triptych that I’ve dreamed of painting. The first panel would immortalize the North American Robin, with his warm orange breast standing tall in the grass. When you first hear the robins singing and see them patrolling your yard for earthworms, you know that winter is losing its death-grip on your world and springtime is not far away.
In the second panel I would paint a broad, green field glowing with bright yellow dandelions. I get excited when I see the first brave and unapologetic dandelion pop up because then I know that warm weather is here for certain.
On the third panel of my triptych I envision a scene that glorifies the firefly, or "lightning-bug" if you prefer. When you hold a lightning-bug lightly in your fist, or drive by a soy bean field after dark and marvel at the bioluminescent display of a million fireflies, you may actually forget that winter ever happened.
So those few musical notes, sung by an intrepid little bird, transported me, in my mind, from a late winter morning with the covers pulled up to my chin, to a midsummer night riding my motorcycle down a country road helmetless and in my shirtsleeves.
All that mental exercise stimulated me biologically to the point where I had to get out of bed and answer a very real call of nature. My second necessity was to make the coffee. As I stood at the kitchen window in my robe and slippers, measuring the water and coffee grounds, my attention was drawn to the big maple tree in our back yard. Another harbinger of spring had arrived – starlings! Starlings (sturnus vulgaris) live in the holes and open crevices of our big maple tree. They invade the dog’s dishes and make a mess on the patio. The voice of the starling does not sound like music to me. It seems very monotonous and annoying. But they are God’s little creatures and they seem to enjoy the warmer days too. And they have an uncanny ability to recognize a BB gun!
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I'm pretty sure starlings learned long ago that if you're going to be ugly, you had sure better be tough. That sounds like an excellent idea for a painting. It would be easy for me to say you should make it but just like you, I've learned there is likely not enough time in the day. You should make it a project while Mom is away. On that note you could even stretch it out from now until the fireflys come. Love you Dad.
ReplyDeletethe triptych that I envision is a progression of 3 paintings that chronicle the transition of winter to summer. I know we always call those stubby-tailed little birds "grackles", but my google research leads me to believe that "starling" is probably correct.
ReplyDeleteLove and miss you!
I am not sure which warmed by heart more...to picture your beautiful triptych (a word I totally had to look up) or to read the endearing conversation between a dad and his son! Miss seeing you! SB
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