Performances begin in the wings.
Early - as she preferred it.
Mists swishing away by a breeze stirred the memory of heavy velvet stage curtains parting for the first act.
Automatically she responded by lengthening her spine: head high, long neck, and ankles delicately crossed.
Then the illusion dispersed.
Not rows and balconies. No orchestra tuning.
Only water lapping and boats fretting in the marina with their halyards slapping.
What was it like, she wondered.
To wake up on one of those big yachts – with seagulls announcing the day. Able to wrap up in cashmere for a bit longer. Nested snuggly. Rocked by the wind and rhythmic waves.
Pampered.
The eager staff silently waiting her summons.
Le repose
(1870.Manet.US public domain/commons.wikimedia.org)
The yacht owners cautioning all that their guest had a late night and must rest for her performance.
Quietly drinking their coffee on deck waiting for her to emerge.
Congratulating themselves that she selected to grace them with her exotic presence.
Pas de deux.
Wait until the Menils hear! Do you think we should lunch at the club?
It would have been a grand promenade to the boat.
Très elegant.
The trees sighed for her.
Don’t favor the other leg.
Keep the weight evenly distributed.
Perhaps with a little rest.
Complete rest.
Rest?
Could that be learned at this stage?
“No rest for the wicked!” they used to giggle in the wings.
She was restless.
Now the breeze softly seduced her.
The dawn worthy of Aurora was intoxicating.
She could not help flinging her fingers skyward. Swan Lake not too long a memory.
A small pirouette? One tiny jump? What could it hurt?
Perhaps one small measured gesture?
A practiced eye said the rail height was approximately the same as the barre.
Why not?
Egrets as an audience?
Minnows’ leaps mimicking spontaneous ripples of applause?
Ballerina’s occupational hazard
(Degas.1881-1883.US public domain/commons.wikimedia.org)
Those tiny ankles: the weak link between long legs and toes long tolerant of torment.
One tiny springing step and then a leap.
A performance not to be denied.
Soaring ballerina (1878.Degas.US public domain/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Her wings lifted her over the water.
It was breakfast time and the fish, like silver opera glasses waving aloft, were beckoning her to choose them.
Great Egret in flight (Image: Brocken Inaglory/commons.wikimedia.org)
Feather light,
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
Note: A Great Egret seems to have stopped in for a visit. Tuesday, I was startled to see the most beautiful snowy white giant bird (like 5-6 feet tall) standing on the dock in the mists just at dawn. Would have been a great pix, except, Molly, the dog, refused to slow down long enough to grab the camera on the way out. Been watching everyday since. This morning as we approach the crane fishing spot, the huge bird gracefully flew right over us – annoyed the landscape crew was unloading equipment with so much noise…so the quest continues. It looked as elegant as any prima ballerina. (and really really big)
I know nothing about these birds. I hope that you get a photo– although at 5-6 ft tall the bird might carry off your camera if you’re not careful!
I’m not even sure if it was a Great Heron or Egret – but it stood taller than me and seemed totally unafraid of person with dog….I did worry it would fly and the dog would leap – and we’d both end up in the water….no sign today, but still looking. Thanks for flying in
Aren’t they beauties? But 6 feet tall? That baby must have come up from the South Texas Nuclear Plant! I tease – they are big. There’s one over at Lakewood that certainly could be 5′, especially if he stands up straight. I just love them – but my favorites still are the night herons, squawking around in the middle of the night when something disturbs them and they fly off their lines.
It was very strange with the mist and early dawn…I was directly across the water from it. Never seen such long legs or beautiful neck. We watched it for quite a while then I raced home to grab the camera- but gone! It was giant albino big bird: my height before stretching that neck out to look at us…all I could think was hope it stays over there – didn’t feel like being dragged into the water by leaping dog!
Still wonder if it wasn’t a lost heron? Lots of interesting feather guys showing up now…wish I had place on the water.
Thanks for soaring in to chat
How cool!
Not a bird watcher, but this guy was amazing. Molly, on the other paw, seems to adore watching flying birds. Fascinated by feathered guys….husband says she’s thinking: “dinner?”. Thanks for barking this way, Rumpy.
Sounds beautiful.
One of those rare quiet sights. Thanks for flying in the chat
I am 2 hours from the coast but occasionally we see shore birds, mostly herons or seagulls. Beautiful prose.
We are a short walk to Clear Lake and wetlands (about 30 min from gulf with no traffic). This is a bird sanctuary area where lots of birds rest before they fly further south – and sometimes storm winds blow birds off course and we get to see some unusual ones. I’m not sure what this one was as it was misty and early, but it was beautiful – and so calm and confident..and tall. Thanks for feathering the post with your comment!
What a beautiful thing to witness… and beautifully shared, too. Hope you get to see her again.
It was a nice way to start the morning. Still MIA today though. Darn! Thanks for landing here to chat
I got within five feet of a heron once. It was breathtaking. I regularly run through a wetland and songbird sanctuary. It’s minutes from my home and I feel so grateful to have it available all year round. No, I don’t run through the wetland…I stick to the trail.
Startlingly beautiful birds. Sounds like a nice place to run – makes it easier to get the shoes on and go. Thanks for jogging through to chat
My little mantra to remember which bird is which “snowy egret, blue heron,” with the white ones, obviously, being egrets. Absolutely stunning birds. Lucky you. I’ve seen herons occasionally, but never an egret in the wild.
It looks like the pictures of the Great Egret – perfectly snowy white..how big do those guys get? Not kidding, this bird was as big as me. I had an eye to eye view across the waterway. Just stood spell bound for a long time. Thanks for that phrase – I can remember that!
That egret (or heron) is a beauty. I love your story today, too.
Thanks for flying in to chat!
Given your size description, are you sure it wasn’t the much rarer Whooping Crane? They can reach 5 feet in height. Great Egrets and white Great Blue Herons top out at a little over 3 feet. Was the bill yellowish orange or black?
Whooping Cranes do winter in Texas, so I’m just wondering…..
Argh, I need an editor! I meant, was the bill black at the base? or completely yellowish orange?
Oh, yeah, I just looked back at the picture. Maybe if I hadn’t been so bleary (from lack of oxygen from running so early or lack of sleep, not sure)
Thanks for clarifying…still on the hunt
Just pulled up some pictures of Whooping Cranes. The legs look right (color and length), but the neck looked longer…it was right at daybreak and cloudy/grey mist, so I’m not sure about the bill. There was no black on the underside of the wings on the one that flew over. It could have been a confused Whooping Crane. They winter south of here in Corpus Christi/Padre island area. He could have paused on his way to the coast and planned on turning south from Galveston (which is very close to here).
In any case I sure wish I had taken my camera that day. Quite a sight.
Thanks for flying that info over here!
My bird book (copyright 2000) says there are only 200 whopping cranes in the world. If that is what you saw, your sighting was a “WOW!” They are slightly larger than the Great Blue Heron. Great Egrets are smaller and have black legs. They are all beautiful and a treat to see. a few years ago I was able to take a photo of a Great Blue taking off.
The Whooping cranes are on the way to their winter grounds in S. TX. Don’t know what the current count is – they do a count once they all arrive. The past couple of years they’ve been trying to start a second flock wintering in Louisiana or Mississippi (I think). I’ll have to check on their progress this year – last year the “leader” glider plane ran into trouble with the FFA believe it or not.
Maybe it was a Whooping Crane – it had long black legs with knobby knees – and was the most beautiful snow white color. I am still kicking myself for not having a camera that time. Thanks for flying in here with all that info
Regardless that you didn’t get to photograph it, at least you did get to see it, but yes, oh so annoying, no camera and noisy landscape crew. I have never heard of such a tall bird, outside of Sesame Street that is. I remember how excited I was to see just a plain old knee-high egret. Wonderful that they grace us with their presence
On the lookout once again this morning. A couple of small white egrets. THe big guy must have been passing through. Simply mesmerizing. Thanks for flying over (…seems to be a season of odd occurrences. They spotted a manatee in a canal along Galveston – that’s really unusual here, too. Actually hope it’s headed back to Florida – cold front coming tonight.)
We get herons here, but tiny in comparison! A very poetic description … as always you lead us tantalisingly along until the denouement reveals all and then I have to back and read again with that knowledge!
That elegant bird pretty much wrote the story: such long legs, graceful neck, and snowy white feathers like you would see on a ballerina’s headpiece. An amazing sight. Thanks for joining the flock
About once a year we are graced with the presence of a white egret here at the pond. They are such beautiful birds. Love your wonderful description.
Egrets are a little like pond royalty. Always a welcomed sight. Thanks for soaring this way
Maybe I found your bird?
HA! Maybe….that smile looks familiar. (did you see the manatee in Galveston? Odd sightings these days.)
What a beautiful description. Lovely post
The bird gracefully suggested it all. Thanks for flying over to chat.
Oh, the wonder of very large birds…they are amazing. Hopefully you will get a chance to photograph one (or more) of them…thanks for posting.
Sigh. I think he was passing through. Only spotted the usual feathered residents. But the nice weather here seems to have put out the welcome mat for birds. Thanks for joining the flock
The flock visit was fun!!
Quite flighty! Thanks for swooping in
Was that the much promised marina pic? Sorry reading backwards now as catching up. Love that last photo though.
(We’re all behind, no worries…trying to get new post up) That’s the charter /party boat docks of South Shore marina (on side of it anyway -it curves around where the sailboats are) This is the closest marina – there are atleast 6+ pretty good size ones on Clear Lake – I’ll try to get more pix now that I can stand going outside. Thanks for floating over