This morning I watched a female cardinal on my front porch railing. With the warmer weather having arrived early, she is already quite sleek. As she hopped along the rail I couldn’t help but admire the beauty in the subtlety of her coloration … the muted olives and golds edged with red and the bright persimmon of her beak.
I went along my morning and was still thinking … now of the beautiful coloration of the peahen. She may pale alongside the brilliant shades of turquoise and green of her male counterpart, the peacock, much as the female cardinal does when compared to the bright red male, but her beauty isn’t in the flashiness of her color. It’s in the quiet richness, with just a necklace of iridescent aquamarine.
There’s a certain pleasure in subtle beauty. In our media-driven culture, the biggest, brightest and flashiest is always being foisted upon us and honestly? I sometimes find it draining. Don’t you? Admittedly, I can be distracted by shiny objects … nothing wrong with that from time to time, but as a steady diet, the loud, the bold and the dazzling wears thin.
I will always take delight in the bright plumage of a male Cardinal or Peacock. But I also appreciate the ladies. They have a disdain for flash. And yet are undeniably beautiful. Maybe they’re a bit more like most of us.
Photos: Cardinal courtesy of Wikipedia Commons, Penelope Peahen courtesy of Popcorn Park
Still A Dreamer 
I’m with you on that, Jeanne.
LikeLike
Simply elegant prose, Jeanne!
Yesterday I attended a most inspiring talk at UVA on the scientific analysis of 21st century environment and economic challenges. A brilliant professor, Sir David King from U of Oxford delivered his message, where above all things women play a paramount role on this planet. We women are the deciding factor when it comes to population growth, and we women will create change above all else. If we can reduce human population growth, there may be hope for this planet! Females of all species may not be the most attractive, yet our decisions govern what matters.
LikeLike
Women are the keepers of the light. And I agree; our role in the future of the planet, in so many ways, is critical. I am also encouraged when I see young people really caring about these issues. They seem to know better and/or be willing to acknowledge – more than many adults – that we are down a dangerous path. Perhaps they are more aware of the world they will have to live in if issues are not addressed now. I’m sure the talk was great.
And thanks for the compliment!
LikeLike
Love this, and , gosh isn’t it the truth. Everywhere we turn it is all about the flash/bling. Enough, already!
LikeLike
Thanks, Torey. I think we all did just fine before endless assaults on our senses! 🙂
LikeLike