LAKE WITH PELICAN
The pelican
referred to in this poem was an Australian Pelican. They can look a
little comical on land or when "braking" with their feet to
land on water. However, when gliding on the water or soaring on the
wind with their wide wings that show a certain grace.
The Australian
pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) is a large waterbird
of the family Pelecanidae, widespread on the inland and coastal
waters of Australia and New Guinea, also in Fiji, parts of Indonesia
and as a vagrant in New Zealand. It is a predominantly white bird
with black wings and a pink bill. It has been recorded as having the
longest bill of any living bird. It mainly eats fish, but will also
consume birds and scavenges for scraps. From
Wikipedia
The
form of the poem is based on an adaptation of the "Chinese
Sonnet"- The
usual Chinese poem is four lines.
The first line contains the initial phrase; the second line, the
continuation of that phrase; the third line turns from this subject
and begins a new one; and the fourth line brings the first three
lines together.
Quote from http://deoxy.org/koan/88
The
last line reflects on the reflexive nature of creative consciousness-
the "reality" of the scene has "given birth" to
the poem thus, somehow changing something in reality.
From Wikimedia
LAKE
WITH PELICAN
The low sun and a light cool
breeze
have spun a shining spell of
shifting,
brief sparks on wavelets of the
waters.
Two ducks sail on the dusk lagoon.
Between long-leaved and
ripple-edged,
green islands of the rustling
reeds
a pelican glides peacefully
with a curious, gaunt dignity.
With cautious, crane-like walk a
black-beaked spoonbill
sifts shimmering shore shallows
for small fish.
Nearby a darting dragonfly
beats four frail wings: a flash of
iridescence.
The stately pelican would sail
so sedately through the calmness
were I not watching. Had I not
watched
I would not give it praise in
words.
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