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everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence
-- Mourning Dove (Christine Quintasket), Salish |
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on the Eastern shore of Maryland, the gentle waters running in and out like fingers slimming at the tips.. and they curl into the smaller creeks and coves like tender palms.
The Canada geese know this place, as do the white swans and the ducks who ride an inch above the waves of Chesapeake Bay as they skim their way into harbor.
In the autumn, by the thousands, the Canada Geese come as they travel home
for the winter.
When they do the swans move toward the shores in a stately glide, their tall heads proud and unafraid.
They lower their long necks deep into the water, where their strong beaks dig through the river bottoms for food.
And there is, between the arrogant swans and the prolific geese, an indifference, almost a disdain for one another.
Once or twice each year, snow and sleet move into the area.
When this happens, where the river is at its narrowest, or the creek shallow, there is a freeze which hardens the water into ice.
It was on such a morning, near Osford, Maryland, that a friend of mine set the breakfast table beside the huge window, which overlooked the Tred Avon River.
Across the river, beyond the dock, the snow laced the rim of the shore in white.
For a moment she stood quietly, looking at what the night's storm had painted.
Suddenly she leaned forward and peered close to the frosted window.
"It really is," she cried out loud, "there is a goose out there."
She reached to the bookcase and pulled out a pair of binoculars.
Into her sights came the figure of a large Canada goose, very still,
its wings folded tight to its sides, its feet frozen to the ice.
Then from the dark skies, she saw a line of swans.
They moved in their own singular formation, graceful, intrepid, and free.
They crossed from the west of the broad creek high above the house, moving steadily to the east.
As my friend watched, the leader swung to the right, then the white string of birds became a white circle.
It floated from the top of the sky downward.
At last,... as easy as feathers coming to earth, the circle landed on the ice.
My friend was on her feet now, with one unbelieving hand against her mouth.
As the swans surrounded the frozen goose, she feared what life the Goose still had might be pecked out by those great swan bills.
Instead, amazingly instead, those bills began to work on the ice.
The long necks were lifted and curved down, again and again, ....
this went on for a long time.
At last, the goose was rimmed by a narrow margin of ice instead of the entire creek..
The swans rose again, following the leader, and hovered in that circle above, awaiting the results of their labors.
The goose's head lifted, Its body pulled, then the goose was free and standing
on the ice.
He was moving his big webbed feet slowly.
And the swans circled in the air watching.
Then, as if he had cried, "I cannot fly," four of the swans came down around him.
Their powerful beaks scraped the goose's wings from top to bottom, scuttled under its wings and rode up its body, chipping off and melting the ice held
in the feathers.
Slowly, as if testing, the goose spread its wings as far as they would go,
brought them together, accordion- like,... and then spread them again and again..
When at last the wings reached their fullest, the four swans took off and
joined the hovering group.
They resumed their eastward journey, in perfect formation, to their secret destination.
Behind them, rising with incredible speed and joy,
the goose moved into the sky.
He followed them, flapping double time, until he caught up,
and joined the last end of the line... not unlike a small child
at the end of a crack- the-whip game with older boys.
My friend watched them until they disappeared over the tips of the farthest trees. Only then, in the dusk, which was suddenly deep, did she realize that tears were running down her cheeks and had been... for how long she didn't know.
This is a true story. It happened.
She did not try to interpret it. but said she thinks of this during these terrible times of war and all that is happening in the world, and makes her ask the hopeful question:
"If so for birds, why not for man?"
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| A Lesson Of The Swan | Login/Create an account | 0 Comments |
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