SCENES FROM THE BEACH | by George Thatcher / DEC. 6, 2015
A flock of newly arrived black-bellied plovers may mark the end of the autumn migration of birds, although we will yet see Canada geese. The plovers enrich our beach by their presence here. The poet Rilke admired the simplicity of migrating birds, contrasting them to the complexity of humans.* So, this afternoon, we watch the plovers on the wet flats intent upon feeding, ignoring a nearby beach walker. Single-mindedly, they are filling their empty bellies after arduous flights. -- Diary, fall 2015
* "The Fourth Duino Elegy" by Rainer Maria Rilke; Duino Elegies (Translated by Anita Barrows & Joanne Macy); Penguin Group, NY (2005).
From the diary of beach walker George Thatcher / Email: fishcrow@aol.com
Collections of Mr. Thatcher's observations are available from Quail Ridge Press (www.quailridge.com or 1-800-343-1583).
This story was originally published December 5, 2015 at 7:23 PM with the headline "SCENES FROM THE BEACH | by George Thatcher / DEC. 6, 2015 ."