Swans
Twice this week, while stationed at an exhibit that would be dull if it weren’t for the beautiful view of the skyline and the fact that on a clear day you can see as far as the spire of Old North Church, l have seen a pair of swans float by in the channel. The first time it was snowing rather steadily and I thought I might be hallucinating, except that there was no reason that I would be seeing imaginary swans swimming in Boston harbor, in January, in a snow shower. (Also, I did point them out to a visitor and he, though astonished to see them, he did in fact see them too.) Then a few days later, at a completely different time of day with slightly milder weather (no snow anyway) the swans appeared again swimming in the opposite direction.
I don’t know if maybe seeing these swans is some sort of omen or sign. I suppose that it is possible. For now I am just going to hold on to the beauty of seeing something that feels rare and mysterious. And to the brief feeling that some of the grace and mystery of swans in January transferred to me just for being there to witness it.
