Sunlight in the Garden

Female Rufous Hummingbird

Our freedom as free lances
Advances towards its end;
The earth compels, upon it
Sonnets and birds descend;
And soon, my friend,
We shall have no time for dances.

~Louis MacNeice
from Sunlight in the Garden

The other day I was watering the fuchsia and geraniums at the end of the front porch when all of a sudden a hummingbird buzzed up and after helicoptering for a moment, began to feed on one of the plump purple and red blooms. I froze. I didn't even blink! I was so in awe of the little darling at arm's length. I had an excellent view of her, too, with the sunlight illuminating her iridescent feathers. I heard the buzz of her wings, the soft clicky-click of her song, and returned her gaze as her tiny glittering eyes examined me. I was simply thrilled!



This female Rufous didn't seem afraid of me in the least. She darted from bloom to bloom, hovered over the railing for a bit, then turned around and darted off toward one of the fir trees to the West of our property. Perhaps she felt the need to protect a tiny nest in one of the thick branches?

Her determined, confident movements and fearless attitude made me think of my own personal freedom. Would this little creature stand for her freedoms to be curtailed or legislated away or seized by an enemy foreign or domestic? Somehow, I don't think so. She'd fight to keep her freedoms!

Irish poet Louis MacNeice wrote frequently of his strict and humane opposition to totalitarianism. He advocated standing up to anyone or any entity who would take away personal freedom. His poems resound with it! Somehow, I thought this little Rufous hummingbird was an excellent example of one small and seemingly weak member of society who is in reality very strong. She wouldn't give into her fear of me, and I have no doubt she'd have attacked if she thought I was going to harm her. (Of course I never would!)

Since that afternoon, I've seen her several times when I've looked up to watch the activity at the fuchsias. She usually has the whole row of fuchsia baskets to herself, apparently having chased away all the other hummingbirds. She's a little darling with a heart of steel. And today, she's my own little ray of sunlight in the garden, my own little symbol of personal freedom.

Long may she fly!