I can’t describe the profound symbolism of birds any better than the following introduction to this webpage with three famous poems1 about birds and freedom:
Birds have long been a symbol of freedom and liberation, their ability to soar through the sky representing our deep-rooted desire to break free from earthly constraints. Throughout the ages, poets from every corner of the world have been captivated by these feathered creatures and have penned verses that celebrate their grace, resilience, and unrestrained spirit. In this article, we will explore a handful of poems about birds and freedom, each offering a unique perspective on the profound connection between flight and the human yearning for liberation.
We’re used to our freedoms. We’re used to the various aspect of our democracy. We can say that we cherish democracy but generally we don’t think about how fortunate we, as Americans, are to have the freedoms, rights, and privileges we have every moment of every day.
Here’s how this relates to the photo on the top of the page.
I took this photo a few years ago on the Oregon coast. It is of the much photographed Haystacks Rock at Cannon Beach (do an image search to see here).
By luck I captured a moment in time that told a story. As you can see in a closer look it shows a family, especially the four little girls, expressing delight as they feed and watch the seagulls.
Let’s say that each seagull represents an American freedom. I count about 27 birds in the photo. By chance there are 27 Amendments in the Constitution. The first ten constitute the Bill of Rights.
Take one seagull on the ground from the far right away, and nobody in the group will notice. Take a few away, the same. Even if they all disappear, it may not register with them.
Move to the next closer group and they may realize they aren’t surrounded by a flock of seagulls but it may not bother them. But then if more and more of the birds they are paying attention to and interacting with vanish, they notice. There will be a point before there’s only one or two seagulls left when they realize that something really drastic has happened.
They they will be standing on famous scenic beach by themselves. They will hear the waves and smell the salt air and they will have each other, but something precious will be missing. It wouldn’t be that the seagulls, the freedoms, decided to fly away. It will be that they were taken away.
It won’t be the end of the world for them. The vacation, and life, will go on. However, something beyond price will have been stolen from them one bird, one freedom, one right, at a time.
Addendum:
I propose that the answer to the question “If you could have one and only one superpower which one would you chose" tells a great deal about you. If you choose a power that makes you strong it suggests that is a need. Perhaps you need to fight for freedom like Superman and other superheros. On the other hand, you may want this power so you can dominate others. If you say you’d like to be able to fly I think you are more my kind of person.
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The three poems are “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou, “The Eagle” by Alfred Lord Tennyson, and “Hope is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson.
