Being There

I was sit­ting in my back­yard, answer­ing email and enjoy­ing the sun, when a female robin swooped onto the lit­tle patch of grass in front of me. Every time she ate an ant she hopped closer. I sat com­pletely motion­less, fixed by her gaze. She hopped closer still and I had the dis­tinct feel­ing of being watched, of some for­eign intel­lect siz­ing me up. Then as sim­ply as she came she flew away. Off to eat bugs some­where else, I sup­pose. Maybe she is meet­ing the male robin I have seen perched on my fence.

It is the sum­mer, and it is beautiful.