The Bird and The Moon

Just over a year ago, on a visit to Aix–en- Provence, AnElephant visited an exhibition of artwork by the sculptor Zani.
He was so enchanted by this piece – L’Oiseau et la Lune (The Bird and The Moon) – that the artist kindly sent him the photograph below with gracious permission to feature it here with the words it inspired.
Zani also asked, and received, AnElephant’s permission to feature these words on his own site:
http://www.z-a-n-i.com

Now the serious, joyous part.
In the intervening period, we have become friends.
Nevertheless, an astonishing thing happened during this week’s visit to see his exhibition in the Hotel de Ville, or City Hall, of Aix-en-Provence.
Zani gifted me this piece because he knows how much I like it.
A present of his own creation, because he felt it belonged on my wall.
Some gifts are precious beyond words.
I can only say thank you.

Footnote: The piece is 62.5 x 62.5 cms, or a fraction over 2 foot square.

l’oiseau et la lune – copyright Zani

 l’oiseau et la lune

a bird on a wire
grows restless very soon
stretches wings and feathers
dreams of flying to the moon

turns towards the heavens
believes his indestructibility
strives towards dark rain clouds
unaware of the futility

climbing ever higher
harbouring no fear
struggling for a breath now
in the lack of atmosphere

an angel sees his effort
takes pity on his plight
breathes a puff of oxygen
helps his courageous flight

she thrills to see his bravery
can’t estimate his worth
refuses to let him perish
returns him safe to earth

a bird is now disconsolate
knowing he can go no higher
an angel sets his heart at peace
hangs the moon beneath his wire