Pondering The Non-Coincidental Nature Of Geese (America, Mary, faith, God)

[MontanaGuy]

I have a friend whose screen name begins with J. She seems to have become fixated on the comings and goings of geese and is seeking a deeper understanding of life's mysteries based on their behavior. Of course we all know that a goose is a very sophisticated bird and is a lover of poetry, Mozart, stimulating discussions and fine wine which is quite different from their low life distant relatives the pigeons whose only purpose in life is to target automobiles and unfortunate pedestrians with their droppings.
Here's a few sayings about geese that might stimulate her pondering.

"If you feel the urge, don't be afraid to go on a wild goose chase. What do you think wild geese are for anyway?" Will Rogers

"The snow goose doesn't bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself." Lao Tzu quotes

"I do not believe in God because I do not believe in Mother Goose." Clarence Darrow

"What's good for the goose is good for the gander." American proverb

[GCSTroop]

That's funny. I too have a friend with a screen name who begins with "J" and likes to ponder the non-coincidental nature of geese. But, I'd also like to let it be known that I have a lot of geese in my neighborhood and they tend to lay their droppings all over my well kept grass which drives me nuts. Other than that, I tend to really like them and they are otherwise pretty majestic creatures to watch.

[sanspeur]

One attribute I admire about geese is that unlike humans, they are completely faithful to their mate and offspring, and will defend both with amazing vigor. Try approaching too close to nesting geese at your own peril.

[calmdude]

To quote my nephew "Duck duck goose goose"

[sanspeur]

1. 
   YouTube - Tennessee Ernie Ford - Cry of the Wild Goose

My heart knows what the wild goose knows
And I must go where the wild goose goes
Wild goose, brother goose, which is best?
A wanderin' fool or a heart at rest?

Tonight I heard the wild goose cry
Hangin' north in the lonely sky
Tried to sleep, it warn't no use
'cause I am a brother to the old wild goose

[Tzaphkiel]

One of my all time favorite poems, it is by Mary Oliver

Wild Geese

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

---Mary Oliver

[Tzaphkiel]

and one of the most essential pieces of trivia to drop in casual conversation and appear knowledgeable

the correct name is Canada Goose
it is NOT Canadian Goose

[esselcue]

...and if you have several geese of varying breeds you have "gooses", not geese.

[MontanaGuy]

esselcue wrote:

...and if you have several geese of varying breeds you have "gooses", not geese.

Really? I didn't know that. I also must admit that I am completely ignorant of the meaning of the last quote I made in the OP. I don't have the slightest idea of what a "gander" is. I know I've used that word in a phrase such as "let me take a gander at it" which in my hillbilly Montana way of thinking means "let me take a look at it" but I can't imagine how such a definition could have anything to do with geese.

[calmdude]

Originally Posted by MontanaGuy

esselcue wrote:

Really? I didn't know that. I also must admit that I am completely ignorant of the meaning of the last quote I made in the OP. I don't have the slightest idea of what a "gander" is. I know I've used that word in a phrase such as "let me take a gander at it" which in my hillbilly Montana way of thinking means "let me take a look at it" but I can't imagine how such a definition could have anything to do with geese.

Is this your way of saying you have never been "goosed" before?