WATERCOLOR ART BY PAUL T. BOECHER

This lovely watercolor shows the great beak of a wondrous bird, the pelican. Today I’m foregoing my own poetry for that of a man named Dixon Lanier Merritt. It is often credited to Ogden Nash, who wrote many limericks and humorous poems. Today, we set the record straight.

Paul and I took many little road trips together and especially enjoyed a wildlife refuge in Sherburne County, MN. All sorts of birds gathered in that place. It wasn’t unusual to find Sandhill Cranes, Trumpeter Swans, Eagles, Ducks of many types and Pelicans taking advantage of this wonderful sanctuary. A driving trail leads through the park, highlighting areas where these many species gather at the same watering hole. Not unlike us human creatures. We too can take advantage of God’s beautiful creation, because He made it for our pleasure.

A WONDERFUL BIRD IS THE PELICAN, BY DIXON LANIER MERRITT

A wonderful bird is the pelican,
His bill will hold more than his belican,
He can take in his beak
Enough food for a week
But I’m damned if I see how the helican!

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a built-in refrigerator attached to your face, where you could store enough food for a week? Especially if you’re flying somewhere and don’t know what kind of grocery stores you might encounter on the trip. God certainly knows how to plan for all of us.