Please Be Kind To Pigeons... (I have the feeling that common city pigeons are the descendants of those brave and honored message-carrying birds of WWI)

THE PIGEON... Today I sat next to a pigeon. Today I sat next to a pigeon and he died. I was walking back from lunch today and saw a pigeon in the road near one of the metered parking spots on Green Street in the city. Not sure what happened, but I think he might have been hit by a car. He was busted up pretty bad and couldn't fly. He had a broken leg and only the left-wing would flap, resulting in him just spinning in circles on the ground. Business people with briefcases walked right past him, a couple of hipsters with cool sneakers and backpacks jumped over him mockingly, a construction worker just looked annoyed, and a woman with expensive pumps just looked disgusted. I knew any second a car whipping in to park was going to run right over him. I didn't want to see that. I know some may think, "it's just a pigeon", but when I knelt to take a closer look, I noticed his eyes were watery and he had the most expressive look, as to say, "can you just help me out?" He was scared. I found a box in the alley and took him up to our beautiful rooftop deck. It's nice and we have pretty peeks of the Bay Bridge and the Transamerica Pyramid Building. I sat him next to me in a shady spot and his breathing began getting very labored. I knew he was dying. I thought about all the views of San Francisco he must have seen in his life. The Golden Gate Bridge at Sunset, Coit Tower, near my office lit up at night, and miles of trees in the Presidio. Yes, it was only a bird's life, but maybe it was a good life.

I talked to him in the final seconds when his body began to defy him. I said it was going to be ok and it was time to let go. I was happy to be there with him at that moment, and then he was gone. It was only 12 minutes out of my day, but I didn't want him to have to go alone. Today I sat next to a pigeon. Be kind. ~ Anthony Cordova