A Striped Feather

I strolled past the front gate onto the concrete sidewalk this morning. A small blue jay feather was caught neatly in a crack between two paving slabs. I crouched down to examine it before pulling it free. The barbs were stiff and neatly patterned with thin black bars across pale blue. Holding it upright by the quill, it felt almost weightless in my fingers. I spun it slowly against the morning light, watching the soft fringe flutter, then tucked the quill securely into my front pocket alongside my treasures. #Bluejay #bird #Canada