Being present and explicit requires, first, presence. A catbird is known to be very social. That means they like to hang around with us. We have one living around the cabin this year. He seems to like to sit outside and sing long complex songs, as if he's telling us about everything he's seeing. 

This morning, as I listened to his song, I worked to stay in every moment of it. Not anticipating what would happen next or what he just sang, but being in what he was singing as he sang it. This note, this moment, right here right now.