Quote of the Day!

Welcome to

Jaywalker.ca

arts magazine.
Submit!

You'll be virtually a-mused, Kingston!!

ISSN 1708-5845 Online     Magazine  Art In Kingston   About Kingston   Press Releases   HELP!!     ISSN 1708-5837 Print

About Us

Adversity & the Artist

Anecdotes

Artist Links

But Is It Art...?

But Is It Music...?

Collectible Bookmarks

Current Issue

Crosswords

Distributors

Essays

Front & Centre

Heart Shaped Box

Hors D'Scopes

Inspiring Places

Jam Makers

Mastheads

Past Issues

Picture of the Day

Save A Jaywalker!

Short Stories

Wordsmith's Intersection

 

Baby Squirrel Videos

Wild Kitten Movies

 

Google

WWW Jay

 

Jaywalker free magazine of the arts was published monthly in Kingston, Ontario, Canada and is still available online at all times right here! We hope to get some version of it going again. For now, it is an archival site only.

 

Check out our old publisher's new blog, The Metaphor Observatory, with plenty of examples of contemporary metaphor in the media.

 

Bookmark us today!

 

 

A Pigeon Meets its Mark

Submitted by Beate Scheffler

 

     Imagine the adjustments I had to make after moving from a country home, situated on twelve acres of land near a lake and shared with dogs, ducks, deer and the usual assortment of country wildlife, to a small two bedroom apartment on one of the city's busiest corners. Although the move was not a long distance one, it has certainly moved me worlds apart. A bit of a culture shock for sure. But being the hearty, resilient country type, I settled in to make it more of what I was accustomed to.

     I crammed the tiny balcony with herbs, tomatoes, peppers and an odd arrangement of houseplants so that they could enjoy a sunny vacation. Proudly sandwiched among the jumble of pots was my new willow chair (My most recently acquired skill - rustic furniture making!). The compact retreat, which I affectionately referred to as "The Cottage", was intended to help ease me into the high-rise lifestyle. However, three previous occupants refused to vacate the premises. The feathered trio would come and go at will, tromp through the plants, sample at their leisure and leave a mess in their wake. It was a daily chore to clean up after them and repair the damage (I hear you saying "sounds like my cottage guests…").
     I have always tried to be environmentally responsible. On my country estate, I made an effort to plant self-sustainable species rather than exotics that require excess watering, soil amendment and modifications. I have compiled a long list of kitchen-type pest controls as alternatives to chemical sprays. Even the patio pots in my high-rise have organic soil in them. It truly goes against my nature to deliberately go against nature - therein lies my dilemma. What do I do with those blasted pigeons? I was the one who enjoyed feeding the birds in the country, and now I want to chase them away? City life was more complicated than I expected.
     I learned in a few short weeks of reluctantly sharing my cottage with these 'guests' that pigeons are not stupid birds. I began to wonder where the phrase "bird-brained" even originated from. These wily birds would perch themselves as I was having my dinner or relaxing after work, and coo in the most soothing and enchanting way. They would pose in the sun and show off their jewel-toned feathers; with the sun the dull grey became a magnificent iridescent glow. The pigeons were quite tame and did not fly off immediately when I approached. Rather they would stand still and cock their heads as if to say, "Gonna' make me leave?". They studied me as surely as I studied them. It was interesting getting to know them.
     The clincher however, was one morning, after cooler wetter weather had moved in over night, I noticed one of the birds huddled on the balcony seeking shelter amongst my plants. I didn't have the heart to shoo it away. I proceeded to get organized for my morning 

 

Continued on Page 2...

 

 

Back to April 2004 Jaywalker