On a cool winter afternoon
I chose the rust colored rocks as my perch,
Looking and listening for gifts from God.
The setting sun's warmth drew me to
the water's edge.
Retreating as I was from my mind's
incessant swirling
Alone in the quiet my eyes saw
the floating iceberg,
But my brain rejected the vision crying,
"Not in Oklahoma!"
The iceberg continued floating and bobbing
while my brain adjusted to the sight.
Indeed, the white iceberg remained floating
filled with life squawking, gurgling, cooing.
Minutes upon minutes whispered by
and I grew restless.
In God's time the Southern tip of the white bobby berg
began lifting off from the sparkling surface.
Filled with grace and the echoing hum of a pipe organ
the Pelicans white outstretched wings flapped in unison.
First, flying South then turning North creating
an ice skater's figure eight in the air.
Down, then up again they soared in graceful
harmony.
Remaining far from shore the pouch of pelicans
alighted on the water's surface like a blizzard of snowflakes.
I thanked God for that moment of beauty
and vowed to return at sunset.
As the sun reached lands end the cackling turned to cooing.
"Good night snow white Pelicans," I whispered.
Letty Watt, January 28, 2019 (Ft. Gibson lake, Sequoyah St. Lodge)
Thank you Mary Oliver for being my poet muse, my nature guide to hidden beauties that we often miss. Our poet Heron, Mary, has taken fight for heaven, but her words live on helping us observe nature's gifts.
Mary Oliver wrote:
When it's over, I want to say: all my lifeI was a bride married to amazement.
(When Death Comes. New and Selected Poems, Vol 1, Beacon Press)
Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver, Pulitzer Prize Winning Poet
