The Bird Catcher

I like to break the routine. Today during my break between classes I decided to travel down to the little town of Sariyer and peoplewatch by the Bosphorus. I found a spot of shade on the grass and observed the cacophonous birds, effervescent children and snoozing dogs. The birds commanded attention as they fluttered about busily in search of their singular objective: food. A stampede of feet interrupted my existential daydream about the life of birds, and I looked up to find three generations: a grandfather, a father, and a son. The latter, a three year old, led the way, bouncing to and fro as all children do when overwhelmed by their surroundings. The birds continued to make their presence felt as they flapped about these three. The son came upon a little robin that had been separated from his comrades. The boy inched closer to the stranded warrior with deliberate hesitation. Suddenly two hands worked swiftly to gather up the tiny bird. As the poor soul squeaked rhythmically to deliver a clear distress call, the father smiled and beckoned his son closer. The boy looked upon his father as one stares in disbelief as something previously thought impossible, proves otherwise. The grandfather simply chuckled to himself. The father whispered words of reassurance and offered his chirping hands to the boy. The boy reached his little finger out to the bird and stroked its head. The father praised his son and quickly unclasped his hands, releasing the distressed soldier from his tortuous captivity. The bird shot out and sang with delight. He reunited with his kin, never to wander from the group again. The father took his son over to the washbasin, scrubbed their palms and the three generations proceeded through the park, hand in hand in hand in hand.

I can't exactly figure why I found this short sequence so profoundly moving- a father taking his son through the world, finding ways to help him make sense of it. Perhaps it was the generational factor. Perhaps it was just a father joking around. But I saw something more; I saw harmony. This place is filled with it. From the way family members support each other to the way businessmen respect one another. From the stray dogs that delight in their freedom to the smoking man that directs the foreigner to his destination. Everything here is part of the whole. Anything that seeks independence is quickly reminded of its responsibility to the group. Its responsibility to this unity.