Subtle Patriotic Umbrella

We sat on a weathered wooden bench by the ocean. High overhead a line of eight pelicans flew from right to left, all their wings straight out in a long glide, no one flapping; it looked so easy and relaxing. Then, much lower, just skimming the water, another line--21 dark cormorants all flapping like crazy, working so hard, moving from left to right. The air smelled so sweet, like breathing in sun and salt spray and seaweed.