I laid on the rocks
at the waters edge
warming my cheeks in the sun
a small shell beach was just beyond
and the tall rain forest stood all around
 
a vision came forth
of the gull and the quail
one on the land
and the other in the air
surely each bird
had something to share
 
the quail a male with his
playful top crown
stayed close to his family
leading their roam
out of the forest and
across the meadow
ducking and darting
in and out of the brush
occasionally lingering
then on with a rush
always moving the covey along
the seed eating terrestrial
called a unique song
 
the gull a female had her
wings in the air
she flew on the current
the water as her lair
swooping the cliff sides
wading the beach
diving for sea life
within her beak’s reach
graceful and gentle
a scavenger intelligent
alert were her eyes
a resourceful opportunist
and plaintive was the sound of her cries
 
two different birds
of two different feathers
one from the land
one from the water
and tho’ these birds
be of different tribes
they both shared wings
and knew how to survive