The Robin

In the Lane where I live, we are very fortunate to have a resident robin – a wonderful and friendly little bird who lives in a tree hereabouts, and can be seen and heard going about his business in the vicinity. I live in a rural area with lots of berry bushes – blackberries, hawthorn, rosehips, elderberries etc – so he has plenty to eat during the autumn. And in the winter my neighbour feeds the birds regularly, so they are well cared for.

During last winter I had received a log delivery, and was busy transporting the logs from outside my garage, through into the workshop to be stacked, when I became aware that robin was watching me from a nearby tree. (Chloe wasn’t with me on that occasion, thankfully). As soon as I spotted him I slowed down my work and became much more mindful and aware, and he, sensing this, fluttered down to the ground and began searching the ground near the logs for worms and grubs. As I carefully moved logs away, he had a new place to find his food, and we continued like this for some time – me gently shifting logs, and him pecking up his meal from an increasingly large area of ground. When I had finished he perched in the tree and studied me, then for a minute or two sang his gorgeous song as if in thanks, and was off.

I saved a robin from one of the cats a few years ago, and thankfully he was unscathed and flew away. So this robin, with his instinctive knowing passed down through the generations of Robin Wisdom, will feel this, and my empathy for him. And maybe that’s one of the reasons he sings so joyfully – knowing he is revered and valued for just being himself. His song indeed reflects his complete freedom and the feeling of rejoicing in just being.

I wish I could describe Mr Robin’s exquisite song to you, but mere words are quite inadequate to describe its beauty. His song is like the rarest and most high quality gems in sound form – like diamonds of sound. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard, without a doubt. And he has such an amazing repertoire of the most beautiful sounds – I cannot believe the variety of sounds he makes; it is quite astonishing. When I am in my garden and hear him, I usually stop what I am doing to listen. I can’t always see him – he may be in a neighbouring tree or on a roof top - but his song is so distinctive that I can tell it is him as soon as he sings. It is so varied, yet instantly recognisable with its own unique personality and timbre. His song is full of joy and pleasure, and sheer exuberance at being alive. Deep throated and full of such a variety of sound colour and texture – ecstatic little curls and twists and phrases of sound, that stop me in my tracks every time I hear it. For such a small bird his song contains an incredibly diverse array of wonderful varied sounds. This is true, natural Sound Healing! It is such a privilege to hear, and I feel like the luckiest person in Devon when he sings. He is such a magnificent little thing. I am moved every time I see & hear him. Mr Robin, I think you have captured my heart!