Two weeks ago in Florida, I decided I wanted to paint a flamingo. I mean, how DELIGHTFUL are these birds? Their name is fun to say. Their colors bring me back to watching SCLUB 7 after school as a kid while doing math homework. Then my siblings and I would go outside on the warm September days and dance in the sun to their songs. Okay back to flamingos. Their whole standing on one leg thing! I was just reading that flamingos use virtually no energy to stand on one leg and doze off! There's also a mystery to this process that involves storing up heat and energy. I love that.
So as I was painting, this little poem came to my mind. Here it is for you.
The Checkbook of a Flamingo
we aim for harmony
for the clean zeroes
the cooperation of tos and fros
we ache for comfort
we worry for peace
we strive for relaxation
may we learn from the bird
for how she's known best
standing on one leg
storing up rest
that balancing act
check, check, check
until it's time to fly
© 2018 Sarah Tisdale, All Rights Reserved
Sincerely,
Sarah