Over the years, I’ve taken many pictures of birds, in different parts of the world. Below, are some of my favorites, along with a meditative poem in praise of communing with Nature...
This surreal series, of pink flamingos, was take at the beach in Paracas, Peru. I gasped at my good fortune to see these dream creatures surrounded by seagulls, resting on wooden posts.
There was nearly a dozen of these fantastic pink works of living art, doing a funny shuffle in the water with their slender legs as they bobbed their heads in and out of the water. So long as I did not move too fast, they let me get close enough to take these pictures.
I was grateful to spend some time with them by the water. Below, is a poem of mine, to honor the occasion (and a picture of me standing underneath an umbrella of birds, admiring their effortless grace):
Oceanside Epiphany
Stepping outside, it’s not precisely sun we’re after
or the illusion of perfect stillness, but something else
that has to do with the distant riot of children at play
staccato squeals accompanied by the cries of gulls
Or the gentler song of slighter, winged creatures
circling above, frolicking, or pecking at the earth
while the patter of water offers its liquid paean,
and winds tease trees till they shudder with pleasure
This is the quiet pageant we longed to be part of
setting aside our book or papers to vaguely register
ourselves, easing into the pattern, our breath deepening
and our heart slow beating in unison with other things.
—Yahia Lababidi
