Michael Thiele is a woodsmith who makes musical instruments and playable furniture. He spends most of his life either in the shop or out on the road buying wood and selling his work at craft shows. In recent years, his travels have begun to inspire his own writing, so he sends me his thoughts
Sunday, Jan 28
Stuart Art Festival
Florida
Atlas
It was midafternoon on Sunday when Atlas showed up. His owner said he demanded to visit my booth upon hearing the instruments. I don’t commonly get a visit from a green parrot - in fact, pretty much never.
When I looked up at the commotion from my front left, there he was with his head cocked sideways and bobbing now and then. Atlas was engaged with the music and throwing parrot sounds back at it. Don’t know if he was talking to himself or to my drum but he was all in. I asked the woman if someone could hold the bird, perch style, near to the instrument. He stared and listened intently and eventually began uttering words, dog barks and whistles, occasionally calling me “sweetie” (must have confused me with someone else……. I am not his sweetie).
His owner told of how he has always liked music and mentioned that he has his own small marimba at home to which he responds as she taps. Is there such a thing as a bird prodigy or am I simply not asking the right question? Doesn’t everyone love music?
Later
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