Flying Solo

I've always loved the term a "murmur" of swallows. Makes me think of a secret whispered among friends. I love watching the phenomenon, an almost solid mass of birds swooping and swirling across the sky as if randomly stirred. How can they do this without knocking one another out of the air? Sometimes they'll alight, find a tree or grove large enough to support them, then without warning rise again, no direction in mind, only exultation in flight.

There is a reason why birds pause: Flying is exhausting work - flying solo even more so. 

That's why connectivity is so important. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all soar joyfully into the sunset? Geese know that sharing the load helps them arrive, and I'm starting to as well. Of course, when you see geese in formation, they are headed toward a common goal.  I want to somehow emulate both of these winged wonders by keeping the joy, but reaching my destination with enough energy left to enjoy my new surroundings. 

So, I perch for a while and reflect.

What I struggle to remember sometimes is that I'm human, and can't force anyone to take this trip with me. When no one else is headed in my direction, I have choices; go it alone and hope to arrive, form my own flock of support, or get knocked out of the sky. Or, I suppose, I could give up trying to fly altogether. But no - there's too much bird in me for that to be an option.

They may be figurative, but believing my own wings will get me there is the only way I ever will. And I'd rather migrate halfway to my destination than freeze where I'm sitting. But I'll do better, enjoy the journey more, with others who are headed my way, so... rather than squawk about it, it's time to seek out like-minded souls.


My own murmur. 

***

My favorite poem:


Be like the bird who, 
pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, 
feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, 
knowing she hath wings.
                                                    - Victor Hugo

My favorite album:

Jonathon Livingston Seagull
Written by Neil Diamond

BE
Lost
On a painted sky
Where the clouds are hung
For the poet's eye
You may find him
If you may find him
There
On a distant shore
By the wings of dreams
Through an open door
You may know him
If you may

Be
As a page that aches for a word
Which speaks on a theme that is timeless
While the Sun God will make for your day
Sing
As a song in search of a voice that is silent
And the one God will make for your way

And we dance
To a whispered voice
Overheard by the soul
Undertook by the heart
And you may know it
If you may know it

While the sand
Would become the stone
Which begat the spark
Turned to living bone
Holy, holy
Sanctus, sanctus

Be
As a page that aches for a word
Which speaks on a theme that is timeless
While the Sun God will make for your day
Sing
As a song in search of a voice that is silent
And the one God will make for your way


LONELY LOOKING SKY
Lonely looking sky
Lonely sky, lonely looking sky
And bein' lonely
Makes you wonder why
Makes you wonder why
Lonely looking sky
Lonely looking sky
Lonely looking sky
Lonely looking night
Lonely night, lonely looking night
And bein' lonely
Never made it right
Never made it right
Lonely looking night
Lonely looking night
Lonely looking night

Sleep we sleep
For we may dream
While we may
Dream we dream
for we may wake
One more day
One more day

Glory looking day
Glory day, glory looking day
And all its glory
Told a simple way
Behold it if you may
Glory looking day
Glory looking day
Lonely looking night


SKYBIRD
Skybird
Make your sail
And every heart will know 
Of the tale
Songbird
Make your tune
For none may sing it
Just as you do

Look at the way I glide
Caught on the wind's lazy tide
Sweetly how it sings
Rally each heart at the sight
Of your silver wings

Skybird, skybird

Nightbird
Find your way
For none may know it
just as you may


ANTHEM
Sanctus
Kyrie
Sanctus
Kyrie
Kyrie Gloria
Gloria Holy
Holy, Holy
Gloria
Sanctus
Kyrie
Sanctus
Kyrie
Kyrie Gloria
Gloria Holy
Holy, Holy
Gloria


DEAR FATHER
Dear Father
We dream
We dream
We dream
While we may
Who are we to need
We need
We need
While we wait
While we wait

***

Am looking to start a writer's group. If these resonate with you, be sure to drop me a line on my contact page.