Into the light 4

art by Pilar Mehlis

Avianima III, by Pilar Mehlis

More ornithropes from Pilar Mehlis. You can see her work, including more from the Avianima series, at her website, here.

Species query
Avianima (series), by Pilar Mehlis

Of what species am I, 
I do wonder,
to know what it takes 
      to fall
into mass formation,
synchronization of lift,
lockstep of wings,
while all my layers,
lone avatars, bristle,
and wick submission,
the random imposition 
of pattern recognition—
      a tyranny 
to no other creature 
but sapient you 
and sapient me.

Yet also to detect, 
tap in the flow,
a deeper design, 
to be many, and one;
me, also you;
both, hybrid; 
the image of 
and the thing itself;
to walk on earth,
yet fly as geese, 
moons on their wing, 
or past ruffled,
a murmuring starling 
at peace with its kin, 
going to the place 
it’s supposed to go.

Avianima VI, by Pilar Mehlis

Into the Light with art by Gillian Richards and Pilar Mehlis is on at The Sydney and Gertrude Zack Gallery at The Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (November 13 – January 5)

Into the light 2