"Birds" © Amy Beth Augustin Barlow 2004

When I was a college student, our campus just happened to surround some kind of wild goose haven. No kidding. Not only did we have to maneuver through their plentiful droppings on our way to early morning classes but these birds were protected by the city. It was a crime to do anything to them because they were some sort of "local treasure". Perhaps I sound heartless, but you have to understand there were gazillions of these flyers ruling our four-year home. They had no fear of college students...they seemed to know our hands were tied. The sad thing was these birds that were a fraction of our size and intellect were actually able to traumatize us. See, every spring, these geese would have their goslings. Wherever they wanted. So in order to get to class we would have to get past their nests. As we neared, the mom goose would take to this manic, crazed flight but kind of in a sideways sort of position. She would pass within inches of your face - all the while hissing with this devilish sound. There was no getting by. Some of us just turned back around - ran home - ashamed at our own weakness. I'm not all that fond of birds. (Genesis 1:20-23)