Beautiful sparrow.. high in the tree.. tell me brave one.. what do you see? From here on the ground.. things seem so plain.. The sun shining down.. the light gentle rain.. Do you know, little sparrow the dangers that creep.. the dangers that slither while you sleep..? From high in the tree.. they must seem so small.. hardly a gnat.. or nothing at all.. Do you know of their poison? Can you learn of their fangs..? "Oh that's just a rumor" you politely exclaim.. "They look so cheerful.. "They have so much fun.. "Why are you all so "betwixt and undone? "How can you tell "from your home on the ground "just where the true "happiness is found? "My wings have grown strong.. "And though not the best.. "I've learned quite a lot "from up here in my nest.. "I've seen all those people "who slither below.. "they seem like good company.. "how can you know "that they are so dangerous.. "come now.. you see.. "you'd see much different "from high in my tree.. "You'd know we're all creatures "made of the same skin.. "You know we're all seeking "the same thing within.. "I'm certain these reptiles.. "as you dare to name.. "have lost all their poison "from earlier fame.. "We're all just God's creatures.. "why can't we be friends? "Stop all your rhubahbah.. "this topic now ends.." And so flew the sparrow down from her tree.. to explore the world.. and all she could see.. She played with the rock badger.. with the beaver and mouse.. she learned how they forage.. and how they keep house.. She played with the wolf.. with the cock and the crow.. She learned how they hunt.. in the sun and the snow.. She played with the snake.. with the cobra and rattler.. then she sighed as she looked at me "What is the matter? "Can you not see "of the fun I am having? "There's so much on the ground.. "So much good for the taking.. "So many friends.. "That I have not met.. "can't you please see.. "I can't come home just yet.." She played with the squirrel.. and watched him store food.. She played with the lynx.. tasting all of the good things that she only had viewed from the tree.. "How could you be so "unfair to me? "These compadres of mine "want you to back down.. "they know more than you "bout their home on the ground.. "Their lives are so full! "Their days lively and grand.. "And I've barely begun "to explore this land.. "So many more friends "lie just round the bend.. "please drop your doubts.. "please, dear dear friend.. "They're God's creatures too.. "just like you and me.. "How could you want me "stuck up in my tree? "So much more to taste.. "So much more to see.. "Please now my friend.. "Please let me be.." And off she hopped.. looking for more of the bobbles and bangles the ground had in store.. Off she went.. to find yet more friends.. and I wish to my heart twould be where this tale ends.. But you see, dearest reader as you may guess.. life's far more fragile than a young bird can guess.. She played yet still on with her many new brothers.. and didn't pay heed to the call of her mother.. She played on and on.. late into the night.. when the python awoke.. in the moon's blessed light.. Sparrow said, "Yes! "Another to meet!" And she hopped down to see him.. And did she him greet.. "Hello fellow nightwalker.. "How do you do? "Can't you see I'm a groundtraveler "much now like you?" The snake merely smiled.. and said, "Why of course.. "You're as the snail.. "You're as the horse.. "Why did you ever "stay high in that tree? "I was hoping one day "that you might meet me.." The sparrow smiled softly.. and hopped ever closer.. as python just chatted.. to make her feel rosier.. As night stretched towards morning.. A yawn crossed her beak.. "Oh my" said the sparrow.. "What words you do speak.. "But I must be going.. "Sleep calls me home.. But the python spoke subtlely.. "Come now.. don't roam "Away yet again.. "For my scales are quite soft.. "You'll like them far better "than the twigs in your loft.." She rested against them.. and said, "My this is grand.. "I never knew such friendlies "lived all 'cross this land.." And she drifted to sleep.. The snake held her near.. and coiled around her.. so that none would to hear.. the gasping of breath as he tightened his grip.. so that his new prey.. would not from him slip. Our dear brave sparrow.. met her maker that day.. and couldn't believe that as she went out to play.. that such dreams would bring sorrow of death on her door.. "Take a look" He said.. "At deaths by the score.. "With each day you played "down on the ground.. "your wings they did atrophy. "All the friends that you found.. "may have been quick witted.. "may have seemed nice... "but you weren't meant "to play on the ice.. "You weren't made.. "to store nuts or build houses.. "Your purpose was not "to play games with the mouses.. "I made you for grander things.. "to soar on the air.. "To sing a sweet song.. "from your nest way up there.. "To dance on the breezes.. "And play with your own.. "Yet when about you you looked.. "and felt you alone.. "you said you'd felt tired.. "of being that bird.. "that I'd made you to be.. "You'd felt it absurd.. "To remain in your home.. "And fly with your brothers.. "You had to go hunting "from them unto others.. "others who'd hunt you.. "but you knew they were friends.. "you just had to know them.. "and go to the ends "of the earth to taste pleasures "that only they knew.. "come now sweet sparrow.. "Could I lie to you? "Would I make you for hopping "about on the ground.. "and give you such wings.. "which with my love resound..?" The sparrow was shocked.. she couldn't to speak.. She just bowed her head.. her chest to her beak.. For she knew now the trouble.. she knew they had lied.. She knew that she'd missed it.. and deeply she cried. Her tears fell like raindrops.. her days at an end.. she'd never conceived that such a good friend.. could to betray her.. but now she knew.. that hearts run far deeper than is plain to the view.. These animals down on the soft forest floor.. knew nothing of knocking upon Heaven's door.. They ambled about in this way and that.. the badger and cockatrice.. the lizard and cat.. They played at their games.. They married and bore.. children to hop on the soft forest floor.. There truly were hundreds.. thousands.. and more.. yet now she knew.. what she was made for.. but it was too late.. her life now defeated.. would she'd just listened and in her nest seated remained till the day she flew off with another.. a young sparrow in kind.. to wed and to mother her own little children.. to bounce on the clouds.. yet she didn't listen.. her heart remained proud. "Now do you see? "Now can you tell.. "Why I was speaking "till the day that you fell?" She wept deeper still.. and losing her grip.. she begged for another chance.. as a tear did to drip upon Heaven's softness.. so pure and so true.. So let me ask you.. What did God do? What could He give to the girl who left all of the pleasures and bounties to partake of the fall? For you see.. dear brave soul.. Who hast walked on this land.. know that your Maker shall walk hand in hand with you every day.. and shall lead you in true.. to the reason He made you.. but you must stay true.. to all that He's given you.. and all that He's done.. to make you His own.. Then you'll have won far more than this sparrow had found on the ground.. by staring and looking she finally found.. the reason for life.. but it was too late.. her life had now ended she'd sealed her fate.. and though was too late.. she finally new why.. why she was made.. and why she did die. So to all you sparrows high in the tree.. listen oh listen.. listen to me.. know that your life may seem boring and dim.. till you learn to soar.. and be borne on the wind.. with the One who made you.. know now, tis true.. He's got far greater plans than the ground for you.. He's only begun to show you the stars.. so heed now His warnings.. so you'll find not the scars.. that held onto our friend who left her nest.. for a home on the ground.. and failed the great test.. For you see, dearest children.. as you look at the sky.. and you question your life.. do not forget why.. our dear little sister.. came to weep and to cry........ For our dear little sister.. had forgotten to fly.