Rain & Respite

It's one of those less coherent entries but I make no apologies for the lack of prose or seeming sloth.

I like it when it rains and I'm at home, when night's fallen and the rain comes down hard and fast. The gusts of wind that flail the curtains, the occasional blast of fresh dampness cool on the face. As the symphony unfolds, rain drumming against the roof tiles, the erratic percussion of droplets on asphalt, skittering across the road like a drunken snake, the breathy sighs as the trees sway in the wind, leaves rustling and falling, torn from their branches to litter the ground like green confetti.

I like it when it rains in the morning, the sky grey and overcast, the insistent patter of rain, comforting and soothing. When all one wants to do is to snuggle deeper under the sheets, to bask in the warm coziness as the cool air caresses one's face, the clean smell of rain fresh in the cold morning air.

I like it when it rains like now.

A little lost bird flew into the parent's room, a little wet and disoriented from the downpour, seeking shelter perhaps though it may well have regretted its choice. Greeted by loud shrieks from the mother and strident shrieks of potential diseases and feathers over her newly changed bedsheets while that woman attempted to trap the poor thing with all things, a pail.

I turned off the ceiling fan, to avoid the wholly unpleasant and albeit gruesome prospect of the poor frenzied bird getting decapitated and bits of bird all over the room. She'd trapped the poor thing meanwhile. Flapping frantically in the pail, it sounded plaintive, stricken with fear no doubt. But she wanted to leave it there. Even though it'll suffocate? I don't care, leave iiiiiitttt.

So I let it out. Whereupon she shrieked and ran out of the room. This coming from the woman who previously bashed roaches with her bare hands. Gack. The poor thing had by this time perched itself on the armchair, looking quite dazed and traumatized.


Armed with a wad of kitchen towels, I gingerly plucked it from the seat. Warm and soft, I could still feel that small bundle of feathers trembling gently even as I wrapped the papery blanket round it. It remained immobile and for a fleeting moment, I was cognizant of this overwhelming sense of vulnerability. For a creature so soft and fragile to be so hapless and at the mercy of this ..thing now enveloping it in what must have seemed like a vice like grip.

So gently, I went downstairs, opened the door, and as it was still pouring, set it down slowly on the shoe cabinet beside the fern. If anything, just to leave the bird beside something vaguely familiar besides the alien and traumatic environment it had just been escorted from.

It stirred slightly but made no attempt to flee, settling beside the potted fern. head slightly cocked, feathers fluffed out. An hour later it was gone, flying off to familiarity and home, amidst the dying rain.

I leave you now with the very apt full version of Blue Bird by Ikimono Gakari. Best known as the most recent OP song for Naruto Shippudden. But I told you before didn't I. This entry was meant to be incoherent.

Blue Bird by Ikimono Gakari




飛翔(はばた)いたら　戻らないと言って
目指したのは　蒼い　蒼い　あの空

You say if you could fly, you would never come back down
You aimed for that blue, blue sky

“悲しみ”はまだ覚えられず
”切なさ”は今つかみはじめた
あなたへと抱く　この感情も
今”言葉”に変わっていく

You've yet to remember "sadness"
Just now began to grasp "pain"
Even the feelings I held onto for you
Are just now changing into words

未知なる世界の　遊迷(ゆめ)から目覚めて
この羽根を広げ　飛び立つ

As you awaken from the dream of an unknown world
Spread your wings and take off

飛翔(はばた)いたら　戻らないと言って
目指したのは　白い　白い　あの雲

You say if you could fly, you would never come back down
You aimed for those white, white clouds

突き抜けたら みつかると知って

If you break through, you know you'll find it


振り切るほど　蒼い　蒼い　あの空
蒼い　蒼い　あの空
蒼い　蒼い　あの空

So try until you break free to that blue, blue sky
That blue, blue sky
That blue, blue sky

愛想尽きたような音で　錆びれた古い窓は壊れた

With a sound like all civility was gone
The rusted, old window broke

見飽きたカゴは　ほら捨てていく
振り返ることはもうない
高鳴る鼓動に　呼吸を共鳴(あず)けて
この窓を蹴って　飛び立つ

Look, you're so sick of looking at that cage that you're throwing it away
Without ever looking back again
That throbbing beat takes your breath away
And you kick open that window and take off

駆け出したら　手にできると言って
いざなうのは　遠い　遠い　あの声
眩しすぎた　あなたの手も握って
求めるほど　蒼い　蒼い　あの空

You said if you could run, you would obtain it
You're tempted by that distant, distant voice
It grasps your far too dazzling hand
Until you pursue that blue, blue sky

墜ちていくと　わかっていた　それでも　光を追い続けていくよ

I understand that you are falling
But still, continue to follow the light

飛翔(はばた)いたら　戻らないと言って
探したのは　白い　白い　あの雲
突き抜けたら　みつかると知って

You say if you could fly, you would never come back down
You searched for those white, white clouds
If you break through, you know you'll find it

振り切るほど　蒼い　蒼い　あの空

So try until you break free to that blue, blue sky

蒼い　蒼い　あの空
蒼い　蒼い　あの空

That blue, blue sky
That blue, blue sky