Can a Hummingbird Sing?
On her way to school it was Amazing Grace. Stroking Benji's thistledown ears, Willow. On holiday, Moonlight Shadow. But Anna never sang. Even now she still shrank from the echoes.
You're the first child I ever knew... you're not even... and the glare that gripped her throat.
And so her music flowed through a reedy, open-mouthed hum that sounded as if she might at any moment break into song.
Write. Said the teacher.
And so she wrote and so she won and so she faced him by the piano.
Now sing it.
No.
Sorry?
I can't sing.
You can.
Can't.
You must. You wrote it, you won. Now you have to sing. He waited for his silence to crush her stutter, forcing her to open her song - but even as she inhaled a bird flew in on her fear and lodged in her throat. Jackdaw to her voice, wings beating her breath aside. And so she stood, mouth and eyes agape, panic flapping through every orifice.
He leaned forward. His eyes soft. She closed her mouth and failed to meet his gaze.
Penny for them?
What?
Penny for your thoughts?
Before she could still her wanton face, her lip widened and curled, her eyes scrunched and fat tears spilled shame down her cheeks.
She said I couldn't sing. Mrs P. She said, I'm the first child she ever knew that couldn't sing.
What?
And I'm not even tone deaf. As if that made it worse, as if her inability had a wilful way.
He paused. He reached for her shoulder.
It's only words. He said. When you hear words, make sure you know which ones to keep, and which ones to drop. Because what use are words if they silence a voice?
His hand pressed her skin, his warmth more real than any echo. So she met his eyes and saw his belief. And knew, then, that just as some words can be banished, so others need to be sung... and as the penny dropped her soul hitched a ride on his hope and rose and rose past all her fluttering fear. Lighter than air she flew, as the bird in her throat broke free.
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Author's Note
Writing prompt from Meg Pokrass' yAWP: write a story based on an animal fact http://bit.ly/anifacts. I chose 'a hummingbird weighs less than a penny'.
Ref. also Wikipedia: 'Unlike most hummingbirds, the male Anna's Hummingbird sings ...' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna's_Hummingbird
Accepted by LikeBirdsLit, 4 June 2010 - my thanks to Kait Mauro. http://likebirdslit.com/2010/06/04/can-a-hummingbird-sing/
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kind of stunned here. I will say more later, as i have to rush out very soon. This floored me.I will get into detail later. You amaze.
Wow. That bird. The panic. The fluttering. The flying. The pace of this is great.
Oh my. Amazing, Martha. Great piece.
This is heartbreaking. Partly for the damage done in the first place, but mostly because what teacher would dare lay a reassuring hand on a child these days.
there is a bird in MY throat now. Stunning piece.Fave!
Oh yeah. So good. Big fav.
And also, the authors notes. I missed them first time, too thirsty for the story. Very smart, Martha.
Go the head of the class, Martha. This beats all. A+
Thank you so much, everyone, for your kind comments on my story. Your thoughts mean a great deal to me. Martha
Martha,
This my third time read through your story today. It affected me in a very personal way. Finely wrought and done.
and as the penny dropped her soul hitched a ride on his hope and rose --
really nice, martha.
Just got over here, Martha, savoring this now. Love so much here. The tone, the pace, the flutter of it all.
That last paragraph is so moving, Martha. The whole beautifully written.
Fave
(still working on my animal story, should be up tomorrow!)
I am so moved by this. After I read it, I just sat for a while. Then I remembered that Bukowski poem, the one about the bluebird in his heart. I really liked that poem. I like your piece better.
fav
Thank you so much, everybody, for your fantastic, supportive comments. 'Hummingbird' was based on the musical squawks of my own childhood so I'm thrilled that you like it. You all take care, M.
I REALLY like it, Martha -- enough to read three times (hoping for the osmosis to kick in). This phrase stopped my eye ":. . . as she inhaled a bird flew in on her fear . . .", then you tied the story together with the closer. Flat-out great writing.
Thank you, Ramon, you know your opinion means a lot to me.
His hand pressed her skin, his warmth more real than any echo.
Keep coming back to that one line. Gorgeous stuff. Printed it for savoring again. Peace...
A memorable piece, Martha. So much in so few words. Fav
Even as she inhaled a bird flew in on her fear. Loved that. Quietly sad, and yet. Stays with you.
Wow, just simply amazing! Gorgeous in all aspects.
This is just so good, Martha.
'Jackdaw to her voice, wings beating her breath aside. And so she stood, mouth and eyes agape, panic flapping through every orifice. ' - this is just perfect.
I love where you went with this, knowing how it evolved from your animal fact. Really enjoyed this piece!
Thanks, everyone, for reading and commenting - I really enjoyed writing this, and also reading the other 'animal prompt' pieces that have been posted. Great fun.
Ay, Martha, this is gorgeous. Brings tears to my eyes. (Small print: I, too, was silenced once, and even changed languages to learn to voice things again)
The tone of this is sad in a sweet way. I like it.
Lovely imagery, Martha, and a most apposite title, too.