Blue Heron's Stance
by Lee Kirk
the heron
lifts its
leg stalks
one slow foot
at a time
oh this is,
oh this, oh
this is patience
personified
see how
he stands
one foot
held high
a full five
minutes
nothing moves
save one
feather
in the slender
crest flips
in a slight
breeze and one
dark eye
manages to look
asleep alertly
and oh this
is, oh this,
oh this is
peace personified
until
with a flick
the dangerous
beak is filled
with flapping
liquid silver
about to make
that last
long
dark
swim
down
the unfathomed
throat