Fallen Birds | Teen Ink

Fallen Birds MAG

January 15, 2009
By ErinG BRONZE, Austin, Texas
ErinG BRONZE, Austin, Texas
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

Favorite Quote:
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23


As I walked to the mailbox with my dad, I saw something drop from a tree. I couldn't tell what it was, so I kept my eyes on the spot as we approached.

It was a baby bird, fallen from its nest. It had long, awkward wings and feet, and eyes that fought to stay open. It was sweet. I sat next to it while my dad got the mail. I looked for its nest and mother, wondering what would happen to it.

My dad said we had to leave it; there was nothing we could do. He said if the mother smelled traces of humans she wouldn't go near the baby.

As he began to walk away, a woman approached. “Did he fall out of a nest?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

“Happens a lot. Not much we can do,” she said, echoing my dad. “Try not to think about it when you go to sleep tonight.”

I walked by the mailboxes the next day. The baby bird lay dead in the grass.

I realize that “Try not to think about it” is a philosophy many people live by. The woman wasn't being mean; she was actually quite nice. But when everyone says “there's nothing I can do – just try not to think about it,” where do we end up? With an entire continent like Africa, crippled by famine and poverty and suffering. When billions of people simply try not to think about it when they go to sleep at night, we end up with millions of fallen birds lying dead and forgotten in the grass.



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This article has 4 comments.


on Sep. 18 2014 at 8:19 pm
Tigerlover123, Washougal, Washington
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Every girl is beautiful, it just takes the right guy to see it."

this makes me sad... my mom works in an animal hospital and it makes me cry to hear how many animals die in the world. i have seen many birds fall from trees and each time i always save them ( my parrents dont always agree but i feel like animals cant be ignored)

on Jul. 19 2010 at 1:53 am
MiddleOfAnEgg, Madison, Wisconsin
0 articles 32 photos 68 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Every wall is a door." -R. W. Emerson

I read this in the magazine at school and I was truly amazed. I loved it, and the last paragraph concludes it very well. Great job!(:

on Dec. 7 2009 at 10:37 am
xxjosiexx143 SILVER, Lexington Twp., Maine
9 articles 6 photos 23 comments
This is really well written and it makes a lot of sense. Good work!

ElphabaGirl said...
on Dec. 2 2009 at 9:41 pm
WOW! This is so well done. you proved your point using metaphors and intelligent comparisons but at the sam time it wasn't too wordy. This is really great! Keep up the good work!