Artist's commentary
One night, the night sparrow saw a man.
At first, I alighted on the top of a tree and secretly watched him while wondering if he had gotten lost in the forest. The next night, the man appeared again at the same spot. Perhaps he wasn't lost after all. What had caught his attention? What was he looking for? Still hidden in the trees, I followed his gaze. Ah, so the man was looking at the moon through a gap in the trees. What a romantic, coming here all by his lonesome to gaze at the moon. Was it fun? What a strange person, what a romantic.
The following night, I again returned to that place and rested on a nearby tree. The man was also there, looking at the moon once again. That night, the moon had started to wane. What was he thinking about while watching the fading moon? Was he just staring off into space, not thinking about anything in particular? The next night, the moon was diminished even further. Again, he was at the same place, with the same look in his eyes while gazing at the moon.
On a whim, a tiny little whim, I decided to approach him. It was really just a tiny bit of curiosity. Curiosity, I told myself, even though I was scared. With the evening moon shining down upon me, I appeared and stood before him.
Should I sing a song to confuse him, I thought. Well now, what should I do?
When the man saw me appear, he said nothing. His body was trembling, unable to take even one step backward.
I guess that's to be expected. He's scared, isn't he?
"Run away, human. If you stay here, you will be eaten."
The man then fled, far into the depths of the forest, with his breath made ragged and his body shaking in fright.
Now, perhaps I will sing.