The Egret's Migration

Black and White Photography by Robert David Atkinson. 

"The egret's annual migration was always a bittersweet affair. It traveled hundreds of miles, leaving behind the familiar marshland where she had spent so many years. As she flew, she thought of her lost mate, and the sadness crept back into her heart. She kept to herself, lost in her own thoughts. Even the beauty of the changing landscape, with its fiery red leaves and golden fields, could not lift her spirits. For her, the migration was a reminder of all that she had lost and the loneliness that came with it. But still, she flew on, following the pull of the seasons and the instinct of her kind.

The other marshland creatures could see the sorrow in her eyes and hear the pain in her mournful calls. They tried to console her, but the egret remained lost in her grief. She withdrew from the world around her, spending more and more time alone.

One day, a wise old owl saw the egret sitting by the water's edge on a log. He flew down and perched beside her, his feathers rustling in the breeze. "My dear egret," he said, "I know the pain you carry in your heart. But you must not let it consume you. You are still a thing of beauty, and there is still a joy to be found in the world."

The egret listened to the owl's words and felt hope in her heart. She realized she could not bring back her mate, but she could honor his memory by living her life to the fullest. With newfound resolve, the egret spread her wings and took to the air. She flew higher and higher, reveling in the feeling of the wind beneath her wings.

As she soared above the marshland, the egret realized the world was still full of wonder and beauty. She saw the shimmering water below her, the lush green trees in the distance, and the bright blue sky above her. And at that moment, the darkness lifted from her heart, and she felt a sense of peace she thought she'd never feel again.

From that day forward, the egret still carried the memory of her lost love with her. But she also brought the knowledge that life was precious and should be lived to the fullest. And so, she flew on, seeking new adventures and joys, grateful for every moment she had in this world." – RDA