Valiant Hearts

A quick shimmer of iridescent red, green, and yellow darts by: a barely visible flash of color. A loud, angry noise comes next: just like an angry bee at hyperspeed. A valiant thrust of a needle-thin rapier, and it visualizes in front of your eyes. A hummingbird. Hovering, its wings matching its heartbeat, it stares fearlessly back at you. You sit as if hypnotized, until another hummer comes to steal the sweet nectar from the hummingbird feeder. Instantly the chase is on, over the elderberry tree, diving close to the grass, skimming over the pool like figure skaters. After a breathtaking chase, they separate, and one comes back to continue his investigation of the large, strange creature in his undisputed domain. Perching delicately on a branch as thin as a bank-manager’s good intentions, he watches you, occasionally cocking his head with a sharp, questioning sound. There is a red fire at his throat, a green forest on his back, and a white flower as his waistcoat. His slim tongue pokes out once, like a delicate pink caterpillar. As you raise your camera to capture this exquisite creature, though, a sharp buzz and a flash of green are all that tells you: he has graced your presence long enough. A lazy fall of emerald, however, catches your attention. You reach out your hand to catch the delicate feather that descends in deliberate spirals. It nestles readily in your hand, and as you bend over to observe this leftover jewel of an otherworldly creature, you not only notice the exquisite grace of the feather, but a close up of your hand, the lines making a road map that no one will ever read.