song bird

Media: Found Objects Sculpture
Dimensions: 18" tall
Date of Work: 2006

The Song Bird written by John C. Borrero

She loved to dance and fly. More than anything else, she loved to sing.

Because she was so musical, many people loved her and loved to be near her.

He liked to be near her. And she liked to be near him. He didn't like her
friends as much. Or her family. In fact, he only really liked her. He loved
her very much, and he wanted everythiing to be perfect. So, little things
would make him angry.

First flying made him angry. So she stopped flying, to make him happy.
Then singing. So she stopped singing, and learned to make him happy by
sitting quietly in her cage.

People who loved her missed her very much. And they didn't like him. When
they came to visit, they would say bad things about him. So, she would
peck at them. And they stopped coming by. And everything was peaceful again.

She missed her music, but she sat in silence to keep the peace. Days quietly
became months and months became years. Soon, she seemed to forget about the
world outside of her cage. She forgot about her friends. She forgot how to
fly. She even forgot how much she loved music. She really wasn't the same
anymore.

He still got angry, but not as much as he used to. It seemed that he went
out more, and only fought with her when he came home. And then one day,
something interesting happened... he didn't come home.

So, she waited... and waited... and waited some more for him to come home.
And she didn't know what to do. She thought about letting herself out. But,
what if he came home and found her outside of her cage? He would be so
angry! She sat nervously, waiting for him to get home. But it never happened,
because he never came home again. She was alone.

Eventually, very carefully... very quietly... very slowly... she opened the
door to her cage... and she came out.

Over time, she learned to live outside of her cage. Sometimes, she wondered
what ever happened to so and so or this and that. And sometimes, she would
climb back into her cage. And close the gate. Because it felt comfortable.

Sometimes, she wonders why she ever stopped flying, but it is hard to remember.
Sometimes her singing days feel a lifetime away, and sometimes they feel as
lose as tomorrow.

Sometimes she can't remember any songs.

But, thankfully, sometimes she can.