There is a wisdom that is woe; but there is a woe that is madness. And there is a Catskill eagle in some souls that can alike dive down into the blackest gorges, and soar out of them again and become invisible in the sunny spaces. And even if he for ever flies within the gorge, that gorge is in the mountains; so that even in his lowest swoop the mountain eagle is still higher than other birds upon the plain, even though they soar.
Melville’s Moby Dick
At high noon on the fifth day, God made the eagle. In the fires of the forges of El he fashioned him. From the hottest part of the fire he beckoned him forth.
And to you oh great Eagle I grant these gifts:
“Thine eyes wilt shoot forth lightning, yea, your gaze will be like the morning. Piercing through the darkest of nights.
I give thee the strongest of wings to beat the wind with a alacrity: not lackadaisically like thy brother the Hawk.
Thy abode shall be the frozen north, the wastes where my Spirit dwells strongest. Few tread there, but I give you a constitution to bear it. And even more so, to thrive and soar over that north country.
You shall eat from mine own hand, plucking fishes from my deep.
All fowl and fish will live in fear of you, and every creeping thing that slithers through the wood.
Thou shalt be a King bird, and bear dominion over all fowls. Only my children will be over you…
And yet, even they will take inspiration from you: your wings and countenance will adorn their coins and banners, innumerable as grains of sand on the seashore.
Thy talons shall be sharper than any two edged sword for you alone are bestowed with my terrible strength.
But above all these things, I grant to you one final gift: you alone of all birds have gazed on the hem of my garment, and forthwith thou shalt have a white head.
Your form will be mighty, but above all these, it is your whiteness which will appall.”
I know but what is it? 