THE REASON FOR THE PELICAN

by John Ciardi

 
The Reason for the pelican
Is difficult to see;
His beak is clearly larger
Than there’s any need to be.

It’s not to bail a boat with —
He doesn’t own a boat
Yet everywhere he takes himself
He has that beak to tote.

It’s not to keep his wife in —
His wife has got one, too.
It’s not a scoop for eating soup.
It’s not an extra shoe.

It isn’t quite for anything.
And yet you realize
It’s really quite a splendid beak
In quite a splendid size.

With ships the sea was sprinkled far and nigh,
Like stars in heaven, and joyously it showed;
Some lying fast at anchor in the road,
Some veering up and down, one knew not why.
A goodly vessel did I then espy
Come like a giant from a haven broad;
And lustily along the bay she strode,
Her tackling rich, and of apparel high.
The ship was nought to me, nor I to her,
Yet I pursued her with a lover’s look;
This ship to all the rest did I prefer:
When will she turn, and whither? She will brook
No tarrying; where she comes the winds must stir:
On went she, and due north her journey took.

 

William Wordsworth
(1770-1850 / Cumberland / England)

For Blue Monday this week, I am showing you my Russian Friends figurine and sharing a poem on Friendship!

Friendship
Author Unknown

Friendship needs no studied phrases,
Polished face, or winning wiles;
Friendship deals no lavish praises,
Friendship dons no surface smiles.

Friendship follows Nature’s diction,
Shuns the blandishments of Art,
Boldly severs truth from fiction,
Speaks the language of the heart.

Friendship favors no condition,
Scorns a narrow-minded creed,
Lovingly fufills its mission,
Be it word or be it deed.

Frienship cheers the faint and weary,
Makes the timid spirit brave,
Warns the erring, lights the dreary,
Smooths the passage to the grave.

Friendship – pure, unselfish friendship,
All through life’s allotted span,
Nurtures, strengthens, widens, lengthens,
Man’s relationship with man.

For more Blue Monday posts, head on over to Smiling Sally’s!

Communion
P. M. Snider

Quietly I enter the closet
Quietly I close the door.
Outside are the futilities,
The doubts and useless struggles;
Forgotten are the little things
That too long have shackled my mind
And held me prisoner.

Now unhurried and free
I contemplate God,
His mercy and His love.
Patiently I wait.

Lo, out of the shadows
Comes His presence.
Silently we visit.
From His wounded hand
I receive his balm
And His comfort.
I rest.

The door to the world is opened!
Eagerly I pass,
No longer futile,
Nor fearful,
Nor yet alone.
No longer I,
But, We!