As weeks passed into January, I had the most startling realization of all. It formed over two days. Seven of my practices in place since 2010 ended—my calm acceptance was unexpected, but highly welcomed. Then I learned that the numerological meaning of 2016 is Endings and Service.*
The wild pigeons, too, have come to an ending in my life. In recent months I have noticed that the pigeon population at the Square Well is small and unreliably visible. The enclosed, large deep well, with its borders of flowering plants and bagged trees at different stages of growth and flowering plants had been my arena of pigeon activity in 2009, written about in “Haiku Part One.”* My opinion of pigeons had altered that summer. I’d slowed my footsteps to a stop to watch the traffic of a relatively large flock of pigeons arrive and take off, leaving wires swaying in constant adjustments, until one became aware of me. As it took off, all followed, circling—supple, plump bodies performing coordinated and patterned aerial maneuvers, until under leadership, they flew west, vanishing from sight—perhaps entertaining only me.
In tribute:
a pigeon flutters
no free space
on the wire
watching
will pigeons let me pass
not today
startled
pigeons circle
the line vibrates
pigeons
on the transformer
different clouds
three pigeons
I don’t understand
no sunset
two pigeons circle
dive in the well
I can go home
pigeons’ backs
the sky a small bar of pink
my gaze anew
passing the well
no sun, no pigeons
hurry home
My realization is, “When accepted as truth that God is within everyone and everything, our mind and heart open to wondrous moments of participation in life.”
*www.universallifetools.com/2016/11/2017-numerology-spiritual-meaning
*February 3, 2016.