Arcadia

From my window I see an ultramarine sky holding brushstroke clouds applied with a flourish. Two ibis glide along the cotton wool track, ugly and awkward on land, elegant as kites in the air.

From my window I see a little boy with new sneakers on. The laces are brilliant white as if they have been soaked for hours. He is so proud of them he watches his feet as he walks. He is learning to hop. His feet tangle beneath him. He falls, worried about the sneakers, examining them from every angle to ensure there are no scrapes or scuffs. Hop hop hop, he says. I’m hop hop hoppin’. He is as proud of the hopping as he is of the sneakers.

From my window I see a pair of wood pigeons. Soft gray like the kid gloves they wore in the 1940s. They twitter to one another, devoted, comfortable, as they sift the grass for seeds.

I see over ten butterflies – white, orange and black, stained glass blue. It is a Butterflies Day Out. They are taking in the sights. They nibble at the  jacaranda blossoms that remain after the wind swept through last evening, gathered together as if conversing.

From my window I see a dragonfly. He swoops and hovers as if guided by remote control. His wings are lacy purple. He is a truly elegant creature, not out of place in a box of jewels.

I see the trees, moving in time to the wind. There is an expectant hush as if they are conducting a symphony only they can hear. For the briefest of instants their movement ceases and they appear as a painting on the sky worth something not even the collectors could afford.

From my window I see an elderly couple, walking slowly, but sure-footed still. They look at gardens as they pass, smelling roses, gently touching shrubs. Their contentment is palpable, they know what they’ve got.

From my window I see a sunset. Pink, purple and gold. If I wore a dress in those colours I would cause a sensation. People would come from far and wide to catch the possibility of a shimmer. I would be a goddess of the evening sky.

I see all these things from my window. All day more and more wonders come into view. I want to cheer. Instead, I smile. Such a promise of grace lies beyond the glass. This is a world worth saving.

*Inspired by the Search Engine Stories prompt – from my window.