In autumn, when Earth is green and yellow and every hue of gold, the blackbird, his shoulders blazing red, gives the call. Kong-ka-ree! Kong-ka-ree!
He waits alone in the golden trees.
Slowly, autumn’s colors melt from trees and meadows and fields. Earth turns tan and brown.
Suddenly, the blackbird’s friends arrive. More friends come, and more. Twenty, then thirty, then one hundred blackbirds gather in the trees.
Blackbird and his friends are excited and nervous. Chit chit, chit chit, they call to each other. The time is coming.
Earth continues to pale and fade and then . . . WIND! It howls and whips and moans. It tears the golden leaves from their branches.
Blackbird and his friends huddle together in the trees. Quiet. Waiting.
When the wind stops blowing,…
