David Kanigan
Be like the bird, who
Halting in his flight
On limb too slight
Feels it give way beneath him,
Yet sings
Knowing he hath wings.
— Victor Hugo, “The Bird,” Twilight Songs (Les Chants du crépuscule), published in 1835.
Notes:
The thing is to relax and not fret about worldly things
but just let the wings open and be oneself quietly for a bit.
This never fails to renew strength.
~ Iris Murdoch, from a letter to Hal Lidderdale written c. July 1950 in Living on Paper: Letters from Iris Murdoch, 1934–1995
Notes:
One by one they opened the bird cages, and the sky filled with parakeets, canaries, lovebirds, and finches.
~ Isabel Allende, The House of Spirits: A Novel
Notes: Photo: Jim Bendon (Parakeets). Quote: Hidden Sanctuary
Such longing.
How large
the muscles in our shoulders must be
to lift our wings even a single time.
~ David Romtvedt, closing lines to “Dilemmas of the Angels: Flight,” Dilemmas of the Angels: Poems
Notes:
But what about the ocean’s intensity that echoes our own,
the fever in cold weather, the soul’s descent?
What about the weight of the angels’ wings?
~ Etel Adnan, from Night
Notes:
Sound of wings. Let’s just say: Wow!
Notes:
Credits:
