“There are no boundaries among the geese … How can you have boundaries if you fly?”

‘The Once and Future King’ – T H White

I find this transitional time of year a struggle. I’m a sunshine girl, I love the hope in the air of spring and the heat in my bones of summer. I can just about cope with winter once we’re fully in it, with the help of a good coat, beautiful boots and warmed wine. But autumn is my least favourite season. I don’t like to see the leaves die, to feel the sudden chill in the air and see the sky colour seep from blue to grey. The days seem to be shortening at an extraordinarily fast speed this year, perhaps that’s just because I haven’t experienced an autumn for a while. Those occasional mornings when everything comes together and the air is crisp and the orange leaves are highlighted against a bright blue sky can help, but I find this time of year just a little depressing.

Except for the geese. There is something about the geese flying south that always gladdens my heart. As soon as I hear the navigational honk honk honk from above, I always stop to look for that swooping V formation, riding the airwaves to better climes. I like to give them a moment of respect for the extraordinary journey they are undertaking, and acknowledge the timelessness of nature.   I’m not quite sure why it’s a sight that fills me with such a sense of poignancy. Possibly it has its roots in reading T. H. White’s ‘The Once And Future King’ as a child, when Wart transformed into various creatures to learn about life. The more obvious assumption is of course simply that I’m yearning for the sense of freedom and adventure they symbolise. Whatever it is, as these geese fly away they lift up my heart.

 

I’d love to credit this picture, but I don’t know who created it (found in the public domain)

Title taken from the lyrics of ‘Feelin’ Good’ by Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse