A Time of Sadness

A Time of Sadness

As we approach the end of summer it is easy for some things to go unnoticed. It is also a time of sadness as some of our visitors have or are heading south for the winter. Our cluster of Pallid Swifts just went. I saw one this morning, but only one. House-martins were lining up on an electric cable and we are now seeing Barn Swallows coming by and they too are heading south. Along the canal a clutch of them were congregating on branches, twittering away, no doubt discussing the right time to shove off and leave us. I did not even see one of the Red-rumped variety either, but they were there a few days ago. Several mornings this week I have heard the 'burbling' of Bee-eaters somewhere up in the sky and they are always a loss as they are so colorful.
However the migration of others should give us joy and then in September we are in the Elbro Delta for a few days.
A sad time it maybe and sadness is everywhere as bad news permeates our lives. This past week the death of Robin Williams was announced. He is not the only one that has left us and it triggered a thought one evening - so I wrote these few lines that follow:-

A TRIBUTE (to those that do)
Did you notice the sadness? It is
normally well hidden only for the
discerning eye that catches a
downtime on the smile. Mind-readers
ought to unite for we get that wrong
the majority of the time. No one is perfect
and I even think that no one sets out
to be perfect, but is it okay to feel lonely?
Is it okay to feel sad? Yes, it is, but then
what else takes over? Those innermost
unshared thoughts that go to our darkest
corners that is where we are alone, but
not to consider our end. I respect the
final decision. It is the ultimate of choices.
Who can gainsay that end?
John Edwards (C) 14th August 2014