I found a pearl.
It was in a most unusual place.

I never had one before.

It was too unique to be strung on a necklace.
No other pearls could be found to match it.
No ring could be fashioned to hold it alone.
There was not metal precious enough to display it.

It was something I just wanted to have with me.
I wasn't interested in its value.
I didn't hold it with thoughts of becoming wealthy.
It was precious to me because of its beauty.

I discovered that I was able to increase its luster.
My stroking made it even more beautiful.
That made me want it all the more.
I felt unworthy to handle it.
Clad as I was in my rags.
Though I wouldn't, I couldn't let it go.

One day I held the pearl to my breast.
And when I looked again it had grown much larger.
There was an inner glow now.
Maybe I had rubbed some of its coating away.
The inside seemed to be even more beautiful than the surface.

Before long I was surprised again.
I heard tapping noises coming from inside the pearl.
There was something inside.
It was trying to get out.
I then realized it was not a pearl at all.
It was some sort of magical egg.

I feared breaking it open.
I might damage what was inside.
So I continued to stroke.
Gradually the shell became thinner.
The tapping inside became louder.
More frequent.

I knew it needed to hatch of its own power.
I was tempted to rub harder until the shell opened.
Instead I gently stroked it.
Just to help it some.

Soon the shell became translucent.
I could see that there was something moving inside.
I began to worry.
I loved my pearl.
It was beautiful beyond my words.
Soon it would transform into a creature.
Perhaps it would find me unworthy of holding it.
Yes, I was afraid of the choice it would have.

Eventually - inevitably - it hatched.
My hand held the egg as the creature freed itself.
The shell that broke away surpassed the finest pearls.
Yet appeared grey under the radiant creature that came forth.
I knelt in awe, my hand outstretched.

It did not leave me.
It was not frightened.
It accepted the warmth I offered.
It sang to me.

The canary had a voice like pearls.
If you can imagine that.
It freely offered me its song.
I knew that soon it would be able to fly.
I expected that it would fly away when it could do so.
Nonetheless, I encouraged the creature to use its wings.

One day it did.
It flew from my hand.
I watched it glide out of the window.
Tears of sadness streamed from my eyes.

I had loved that bird so much.
I held the shell it had left me.
It flew into the forest.

Each evening I wandered into the forest.
I found the canary there.
I listened to its song.
I sang to it.
I could not hold the bird.
It was out of reach.
Yet I knew that it loved me.
It was there for me every night.

I thought about this for a long time.
The canary had a home in the forest.
It was only fitting that it be in its own environment.
We did share each other's company.
Still, I dreamed that the canary would return to me.
I wanted so to hold it.

Time went by.
The canary and I conversed fluently now.
I was able to express the way I felt to it.
I understood the way it felt as well.
The canary would not give up the forest.
It loved me though, and would come to stay with me again.

Canary, I said.
I love you.
I was in rags and you accepted me.
You could have flown away and never returned.
A creature of the forest should properly be timid.
Dance away at my approach.
Yet you give me what you can.
At times you even let me hold you.

Canary, I said.
When you were but a pearl I wanted to own you.
That would keep you with me.
Then I discovered the life inside of you.
One cannot own another's life.
Though I know many people try.

One reason the canary loves me I think,
Is because I do not try to put it in a cage.
That is not the way to keep the canary close to me.
The canary must choose to stay close.
Having the canary close to me is very important.

I sit here now fondly looking at the shell.

Canary.
Never have I met a more beautiful creature.

Canary.
I hear your song when we are apart.

Canary.
Come, let me hold you again.