The Song of the Poet

This stone, by the Brazilian poet Tenório Telles, ties its central image to the morning — that daily moment of fresh starting-over. It describes white birds moving through the wind, not fighting it so much as playing against it, like two forces testing each other in a kind of dance.

If you've ever watched birds catch a current and simply ride it, wings spread wide, doing almost nothing and going almost anywhere — that's the picture here. A small, ordinary moment of grace, happening every morning whether we notice it or not.

Tenório Telles — Author

Tenório Telles is a Brazilian poet and literary critic from Anori, in the Amazonas region, born in 1963.

White Birds Fencing the Wind

This image evokes a sense of grace and freedom. Birds dancing and gliding through the air can symbolize the soul's journey through life — just as they navigate the ever-changing currents of the wind, we navigate the challenges and uncertainties of our own spiritual path.

Praying the Rosary, meditating on its mysteries, and walking the Stations of the Cross, this image can serve as a powerful metaphor. The birds' dance with the wind represents our own dance with faith, hope, and perseverance. Each prayer, each meditation, each step is like a bird's movement, guided by unseen currents.

As we contemplate the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, we can see parallels in the birds' flight. The Joyful Mysteries remind us of the moments of grace and blessing in our lives, much like birds soaring effortlessly in the sky. The Sorrowful Mysteries reflect the struggles and sacrifice we endure, akin to birds battling strong winds. The Glorious Mysteries inspire us with the promise of resurrection and eternal life, just as birds find their way through the storm to calmer skies. The Luminous Mysteries illuminate our path, guiding us with the light of Christ, much like birds finding their way through darkness.

Walking the Stations of the Cross, we can draw strength from this same image. Each station represents a step in our own journey, where we face trials and tribulations. The birds' resilience in the face of the wind reminds us to remain steadfast in our faith, trusting that God will guide us through our challenges.

Two White Doves

This stone's image of birds against the wind takes me straight back to a specific morning — the day of my father's funeral. He was a WWII veteran, and as we approached the cemetery, another veteran was there playing a trumpet. The funeral director read a beautiful poem, and then two white doves were released.

I watched them circle overhead before they finally flew off together. I don't have words fine enough for what that moment did to my heart — it's stayed with me ever since, and reading about white birds fencing with the wind brings it right back.

I don't think that was an accident. When I pray and sit with moments like this, I find myself trusting that grace shows up exactly when we need it — sometimes even wearing wings. That's why this stone speaks to me the way it does. It's given me a place to keep that morning safe.

Guided Reflection

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