=Elizabeth Szabo Birch=

Why does a bird sing? No one really knows. Scientists speculate that birds sing to attract a mate or to protect a nest or simply to announce their presence in the branches to other birds. "I'm here," they sing. "I'm here." These are the leading reasons given. But who really knows? Scientists, like the most of us, are prejudiced into thinking there must be a reason for everything and so they go about finding one. What we do know is that a bird doesn't sing for applause or a recording contract. It doesn't sing for money or fame or to set down its song for posterity or as proof of its musical genius. I rather think the bird sings for no other reason than that a bird is a bit of fluff and bone with a song inside and it can do nothing else but sing it. And that's why I write, if not so harmoniously. Because I have a song inside that comes out with my breath, as a consequence of my very being, and I would sing it no matter, even in an empty forest. I haven't a choice and never did.