Arrive before
Atlantic sun skims wave crests golden
owls return to burrows
gator roars subside to lurks
sudden song scrolls bright
through green and brown swamp
and reedy wetlands where grebes,
and purple gallinules gather
in Monet-scapes of weavy-water.
Stay through
sparking pink and yellow and long-necked
silhouettes stalking
feeding fish and into
afternoon stillness
that polishes weavy-water
to mirrors doubling trees, reeds, clouds
and wings: soaring birds bring
late meals to nests.
Remain just
a bit longer until pink again
flashes into twilight buzzing insects,
humming with enthusiastic flurry.
Prey-seeking predators become
prey for night swimmers and flyers.
Time to leave.
Marian Blue’s writing has appeared in magazines, anthologies, and newspapers for over 45 years. Her writing often focuses on the natural world. She has work forthcoming in Snowy Egret and just had her newest book Sailing Off the Hook, a short story collection, published by Cyberwit Publishing in India. She retired from teaching writing in 2016 and currently lives on her small farm on Whidbey Island, Washington. www.sunbreakpress.com
Featured image by Cherie Ude
