Song of the Sky Essences 25-45 essences.

36. SWAN

Keywords: Impetus. Envoi.

Strong in take off. The swan's wings are able to lift such a weight into the air that the sound carries afar. Feel the uplift.

Background to the essence
There are swans at Welney on the Ouse Washes which fly from the Arctic and Iceland to spend the winter here. Thousands of Whoopers and Bewicks. The thing that interested me most, for the essence at least, was the strength of their wings which had given them the ability to take off and fly huge distances at great height and speed. The muscles of the wing and back are able to give such upward thrust to bring a heavy bird up into the air. Swans teach strength. "Envoi" – take off – with thanks to Kathleen Raine, poetess.

36. ENVOI

When I die I will become a sunset
I have no wish to be human
Again

My energies will merge in a waterfall
With fine mists spreading to create
Rainbows

Deep in the wild forest will be free birds
And my spirit will fly in their forms
Alive

My landscape will move with alpine flowers
And a deep gorge of silent trees
Being

And when I die I will be a wing
Of a swan, beating the sky sound in
Uplift.


Will – you – be – the other wing?