The Balancing "Bard"

Balancing bird. Brooklyn Botanical Garden.
(Click picture for larger view)

"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony." ~ Thomas Merton

In the Japanese Garden pond stands a brightly painted torii or gateway. This water bird perched with outstretched wings on the thin board, turning his head back and forth as if he knew he had an audience. He was perfectly balanced; his wings did not move nor did his position change for fifteen minutes. Only his head occasionally tilted one way or the other. This is not out of the ordinary, in fact, this same bird repeats his balancing act every day; at least that's what the garden worker told me. I love the contrast between the black wings and the bright orange perch; and, this bird has ATTITUDE! I could almost believe him capable of a Shakespeare soliloquy. Yes, this bird is pretty sure of himself.

Submission for SeeItSunday topic "balance". (end of post)