postcards from paradise from where i stand

from where i stand

two ponds blink at the impossibly blue sky.

in winter they are held by a great skein of 

northern ducks and canadian geese.

 

arriving in mass as fall strikes the warm air with its white flame chill.

they glide across the silver water,

content in each others company to reside all winter 

until suddenly, rising as one

 they lift the very surface of the ponds;

marrying them to the sky.

they are inseparable and carry on all through this darker season

like newly weds until the final swoon,

disappearing from view with early spring

until long after

fall's leaves let go in a brazen scarlet dance,

calling back winter.

 

and when they go they leave the ponds 

 silent and still;

as the warm hope of spring stirs the quiet jeweled air.

our hearts without realizing grow heavy

with yearning

until one day it happens, the blue heron returns.

 

 

a silhouette of grace and patience

arrives to call me out from every passion.

gardening or painting;  it's no use,

i cannot resist.

 

i grab my camera

and make my way to the edge of green water,

and enter into the art of patience.

where the blue heron has me on all accounts,

willing to stand for eternity

on one leg or two

 staring into the water for fish or frogs

as patient as the sky.

 

 i spend the entire day for the sweet

possibility of wings unfurling,

spanning six feet in violet blue ecstasy

marrying me to peace, to wonder, to the deep joy

of simple life.

 

 

postcards from paradise

 

 

for an intimate view into the devoted family life of blue herons

visit livestream compliments of Charles Eldermire and

Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

be prepared to be deeply moved with the tender, nurturing, loyal parents

and their new clutch in a well established nest

on a pond in Sapsucker Woods,

Ithaca, New York,

life unfolding before our very eyes!

 

 

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Comments

[Lizbeth]

Your posts are always so beautiful, Rebecca, and I just love these photos. You are fortunate to have these birds around begging to have their picture taken! I look forward to seeing the video.

[Deb Taylor]

I am flying so high with you !!

[judie]

Bird lover that I am, I am awed by your wonderful photographs. I watched the GBH at Sapsucker Woods last season raise five babies. What a wonderful experience that was. I'm on to it again this season. So glad you posted the link. It is too awesome for anyone to miss, and so much to learn about Mother Nature.

Alas, I have no postcard from paradise today because my paradise is that post I made about Ms. Wee and her egg. She is taking all my time, acting like a baby herself, wanting to be hand fed (again). My husband says she has me wrapped. No doubt!

Be blessed, Rebecca

[Wabi Sabi]

Oh this is sublime! These birds(like all birds) are so beautiful and they beckon us to contemplation with their serenity. Thank you for sharing. I love the Cornell website! I have watched several broods raised on their bird cams.

[Carol and artmusedog ^_^]

Wow! That blue heron is amazing and your photography Divine of one of nature's gems ~ Beautiful! ^_^

[magicalmysticalteacher]

From where you stand, you have the best of all possible views!