Difference Between One and Many

Walking my dog around the block

We came upon a single grey bird

Who flapped its wings

And caught our attention.

Yielding just a glance to the side.

To see the bird rising almost straight up

Into the morning sky.

But the day before I was jogging

Along 30^th street.

I passed by an alley and

My attention was drawn by a sound.

I couldn’t tell whether I’d missed a car coming,

But it didn’t sound much like a car.

It sounded a bit like a train.

It sounded a bit like a gust of wind.

Regardless of what it was,

It commanded my full attention.

I turned and saw what looked like dozens

Or perhaps hundreds of birds

Rising out of a back yard toward the sky

Synchronized and together.

Moving like a single grey cloud rising.

My full concentration on the group

Even if just for a moment.

The difference between one and many.