Saturday, August 29, 2009

Bats

Bats are such fascinating creatures, by the very nature of their existence.

The playing time passes quite rapidly for a child. In the olden days we played baseball in the park, forgetting how the day proceeds. Before we noticed it, bats would start flying in the air. For a moment you think it is some kind of butterfly or moth, but then you realize that considering the size and speed of flight they are certainly bats. With a gentle beat of the heart, you realize that it has become dusk again.

The emergence of bats always struck me unexpected. During the day, they are nowhere in sight. Dazzled by the sunshine, you are forgetful of the existence of the bats, as they have little relevance for the life of a child. So their appearance as the sun nears the horizon always came as a shock, as if you were witnessing the emergence of this airborne mammals for the first time in life.

In our mind, there are some entities which resonate in its form of existence with the bats. They would be hidden in the vast ocean of unconsciousness for most of the time. When they do emerge in consciousness, you immediately recognize them, and wonder how on earth you could have been forgetful of their imminent appearance, which could take place at any time.
When I was 9, in the school building somebody found a living bat. Somehow it dropped to the ground, and was moving the wings feebly. In the broad daylight, the bat looked quite different from the magnificent flying queen of dusk. The school teacher put the bat in a box, and carried to a corner of the school building where it would be safe for the day.

The building which housed us at that time was made of wood, with all the poignant expressions of aging. Some years later, the building was demolished to make way for a modern, steel and concrete building.

On the day that the bat was found, I did not realize how precious and never-to-return the whole experience was going to be.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

"On the day that the bat was found, I did not realize how precious and never-to-return the whole experience was going to be."

i feel i have the same sort of experience as well.
Is this a falure? I really want to say, "No regrets. this is a small thing"

Utako said...

" For a moment you think it is some kind of butterfly or moth, but then you realize that considering the size and speed of flight they are certainly bats. With a gentle beat of the heart, you realize that it has become dusk again."

That is well said!
I always can not understand at once what the shadow crossing overhead is. It moves so quick that I can not glance at the shape. Nevertheless,it brings me a certain load of dusk.

I once went deep into the cave to see bats, but turned back in a panic because many flat millipedes stuck to the clay wall.
And we also tried to have a bat in the classroom, I watched the face and wings for the first time. It looked to me like naked gray squab.
As it never ate food from our hands, we finally set it free. We were no match for its persistence.

Bats may be noble envoys from a precious past and a desirable entrance.