The Swan

A chilly winters evening in the park. A few roller skaters whizzed by, some happy folk walking their dogs, children feeding the pigeons, the ducks. The skies were clear, imbued with colours of the setting sun - cream, yellow, orange, magenta, red. Like a great, big, fried egg in the sky the sun took its leave from a world too caught up in events on the ground to notice.

I sat by the calm waters of the lake sipping my coffee, soaking in the sounds of the world around me, the distant siren of a police car, scattered laughter of children playing in the background, the lapping of the waters by ducks nearby and then the silence. Such glorious silence, so quiet and yet so loud, my innermost ears rejoicing in the melody of the space within; eyes open - beauty, eyes closed - beauty.

Eyes open and I see her..she ambled over to me over the water...prim and proper, light as a feather..efortless and sublime, she arched her neck upwards, the regality of her poise stunned me as she surveyed the world around her. Then she spotted me.I couldn't supress a smile at this beauty all white and the most delicate features. She sensed the warmth in my smile and ever so slowly, graced me with her presence as she came closer to the edge of the water.

Pray what manner of creature are you?" I enquired "Peerless in beauty and exuding sheer grace."
As if in answer she flapped her magnificent wings for a brief moment just to besot me further and then, did I spot a subtle smile?
"Surely, you flatter me kind sir" she replied, " for I am not merely this beauty you see. I was not born composed of such poise nor did I always exude such grace"
"I find that hard to believe" I said, "did you fall from some far off heaven?"
She laughed at my childlike curiosity and then told me " I just am...I know not where I'm from, nor why I am here or why I am the way I am. I just exist thats all. Tomorrow I may be someone, something else..whatever happens, I just am."
I was quiet, humbled by the wisdom of utter simplicty. Uncomplicated by notions of coming or going, beauty or belonging. Just being, thats al.

We stayed silent for a long moment and then she giggled "See what I can do." She paddled silently to the middle of the lake, spread her wings majestically and arched her long slender neck upwards to the sky. She then let out a soft shrill, a call to the heavens with the backdrop of the setting sun behind her. I was filled with awe at such magnificent splendour.

She turned and softly glided back towards me, golden snow floating in the water close to me by the waters edge.

"Thank you" I said, "You are such a magnificent creature. "
"And so are you,"she responded, "you more than most"
"How so?" I asked.
" For you have the vision to see beauty in all things, and to absorb beauty, you have to be beautiful within and that you already are"
" But not everybody can see that oh beauteous one" I responded "there are those who choose to see only hurt where there is none"
She was quiet for a moment and then smiled at me "for the longest time, I was the ugliest amongst my siblings. It used to hurt me, I let it bother me, but then I also knew I was beautiful, deep, soulful. My friends could fly the longest distances and my sisters could dance like the earth was made for their feet. Yet in the face of all my inadequacies I was always this and in time this is what I became. Tomorrow whatever I may become, I will always know who I am truly."
She stooped her long neck under water for a few moments and re-surfaced, refreshed.
"Know yourself. You are like no other and your purpose is truly high. Do not lose sight on love, whether you are responded to, in love or hate. Love with all your being for you have so far to go and the path ahead is an adventure like no other."
"How do I know where I have to go?" I asked.
" Follow your heart...you already know the path" she gleamed.
I thought to myself and realised...I did.

Knowing she had given me the message she was sent to give, she flapped her wings once more and some of the water sprayed onto me-
"Laugh, everything is perfect with the world and perfect with you." She giggled again.

I watched her glide across the water away from me into the fading light of the setting sun.