Snowy egret flying east in the wind
a serious look on her face
I see why
right away
A long, slender leg dangles
down
at
an
angle
stiff like an arrow
fallen
from its quiver
the good leg tucked neatly up
properly.
Poor bird.
I’ve watched egrets for years.
Never seen one with a dangling leg
although I understand how a leg pencil thin and long
could be injured
quite easily.
A miracle really, upon second thought,
that I’ve never seen it before.
I wonder:
Does the drag slow her down?
Is she fearful of consequences?
Is she self-conscious,
shunned by her brethren?
Does she curse God,
or lay blame elsewhere?
Is she bitter,
asking, ‘Why me?’
Or,
does she seek a deeper meaning,
studying others who seem to have found their answers
to the questions
of what life is ultimately about?
Or,
is she a fully enlightened being
asking no questions?
Bio: Deborah Louise Shaw Hickerson lives in Esparto, Calif., a small agricultural area located at the mouth of the beautiful Capay Valley and home to many organic farms. A middle and high school history teacher for 27 years, Deborah is now happily retired. She loves being outside as much as possible and also enjoys quilt making.
