The arc of the hawk, when it circles near, lifts the heart and tunes the ear.
I stepped out from under the cool summer canopy of the woods where I walk my dog, closing my eyes to the warming sun. When I opened them again, I was greeted by the magnificence of a hawk soaring overhead. Transfixed in that moment, the thought above came streaming through.
Sometimes, life grabs you and presents itself in ways that can’t be ignored, the way I can’t ignore a raptor. They hold a special place within the tapestry of life. As a biologist, I appreciate the ecology of the living web and its interdependency. Each player is important and essential to the whole, but I also sense a hierarchy that gives greater command to some special actors. Raptors, and certain other forms, are blessed with an inordinate share of talent, both honed and inspired. Within their being, they encompass a summary history of the vital forces that have brought us to this moment in time. Like a keyhole, they provide a glimpse of the living universe that most other forms don’t reveal without a great deal of further diligence.
As humans, we are like raptors. We also occupy a pivotal apex position in the hierarchy of life. By surveying the broad world that sustains us – with keen eye and honest intellect – we are capable of grasping a discerning view that can help guide us through the noise and confusion of life. The goal of this collection is toward the pursuit of reflection and a quality of thought that helps to lift our hearts and tune our ears; so that our spirits continue to soar, like the arc of a hawk.