NeilL
Nov-20-2007, 01:21 PM
http://neilal.smugmug.com/photos/223694088-M-0.jpg
A pigeon flew into telephone wires crossing about thirty feet above this street in Mumbai. One wing tangled in a wire. It hung by that wing, flapping the other ineffectually and contorting its body to try to free itself. Soon it was noticed by a couple of stall keepers below. They gathered underneath and stood looking up at the bird. This attracted the attention of some men passing by. The group grew to about a dozen men who quickly became a team intent on rescuing the bird. They began to discuss and argue about the method until a long pole was brought. It didn't reach the bird. Then one of the men went to a large tree close by which overhung the street and whose branches reached out towards where the bird struggled suspended over the group. Up he climbed, and cautiously out on thinning branches towards the bird. The pole was passed up to him. Propping himself against the bending branches he reached out with the pole whose weight threatened to unbalance him. He was able to lay the end of the pole on the wire which held the bird and slide it towards the bird. When he could get the pole no nearer the bird he began to jiggle the wire with it. Suddenly the wire snapped and the bird fell still entangled to the street. The man in the photo picked the bird up and with patient tender care worked the bird's wing free from the wire, all the other men crowding in to see. He then held the bird for a moment in his hands before releasing it with a gesture like he was offering it to the sky. Other hands involuntarily mirrored the act of release. The bird found its balance and strength and flew up and away. And from each man came a sigh of wonder at the beautiful thing they had done.
A pigeon flew into telephone wires crossing about thirty feet above this street in Mumbai. One wing tangled in a wire. It hung by that wing, flapping the other ineffectually and contorting its body to try to free itself. Soon it was noticed by a couple of stall keepers below. They gathered underneath and stood looking up at the bird. This attracted the attention of some men passing by. The group grew to about a dozen men who quickly became a team intent on rescuing the bird. They began to discuss and argue about the method until a long pole was brought. It didn't reach the bird. Then one of the men went to a large tree close by which overhung the street and whose branches reached out towards where the bird struggled suspended over the group. Up he climbed, and cautiously out on thinning branches towards the bird. The pole was passed up to him. Propping himself against the bending branches he reached out with the pole whose weight threatened to unbalance him. He was able to lay the end of the pole on the wire which held the bird and slide it towards the bird. When he could get the pole no nearer the bird he began to jiggle the wire with it. Suddenly the wire snapped and the bird fell still entangled to the street. The man in the photo picked the bird up and with patient tender care worked the bird's wing free from the wire, all the other men crowding in to see. He then held the bird for a moment in his hands before releasing it with a gesture like he was offering it to the sky. Other hands involuntarily mirrored the act of release. The bird found its balance and strength and flew up and away. And from each man came a sigh of wonder at the beautiful thing they had done.