the pelicans are back

maybe they never left..
the silhouette of their jawbones
across the skyline is unmistakable.


"Oh, a wondrous bird is the pelican!
His bill holds more than his belican.
He can take in his beak
Enough food for a week.
But I'm darned if I know how the helican."
Dixon Lanier Merritt

i am sleeping in the upstairs room
at my friend's house.
there is a window at the head of the bed.
the bark of the harbour seals
can actually keep one awake at night;
the chime of church bells too.

when i awoke this morning
and had a penny peep out the window,
the fog-filled sky and the misty sea
were married, one to the other..
no beginning of salt water,
no end to great sky..
i thought i was seeing a large V
in the water..looking wider, longer, deeper
it was a fishing boat afloat in mid-aire!

my early stroll was blessed by a large V
in the morning sky..
a fishing boat of pelicans..
a dozen or more..
the big chins..the stall of the wing..
the uncomplicated ruckus they don't make..
they arrive at dawn, then sweep away at dusk.


look at the trees, look at the birds,
look at the clouds, look at the stars..
and if you have eyes you will be able
to see that the whole of existence is joyful.
everything is simply happy.
trees are happy for no reason,
they are not going to become
prime ministers or presidents;
they are not going to become rich,
they will never have any bank balance.
look at the birds..
it is simply unbelievable
how happy birds are!
osho