I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking that when we witness an amazing
and spontaneous occurrence in nature, there is some kind of meaning or message in
it for us. The poem I am sharing today describes one of those moments. It
happened a few years ago on a foggy summer morning. I was sitting in the
sunroom on my purple yoga mat, staring out at our backyard and doing a little
stretch before work. Then I lay flat on my back for just a few moments, closed
my eyes and took in some deep breaths before sitting up again. Within the
seconds that my eyes were closed, something had happened outside. Right there, standing on the nearby rocks at the edge of our tiny pond, was something staring
in at me – a heron. I didn’t move. She didn’t move. And she didn’t stay for long.
Two minutes—maybe? Later that day, I went out back to skim that little pond.
Right there, in the tangle of lily pads, was one water lily in full bloom – the
only one that ever bloomed during the short time that we lived in that house. The
heron visitor seemed to have just sprung to life out of the petals and fog. I’d
never had a heron visit my backyard before that day, and I haven’t had one
visit since.
heron
sprung from
pink water lily
petals
she
appears
an apparition
in August
morning mist
a messenger
a still-life
a dream—
‘be patient’
she might say
but in a
blink
she is gone
—by Sheri Doyle, all
rights reserved
 |
| The one and only water lily that bloomed in our pond that summer. |
Robyn Hood Black is hosting the Poetry Friday roundup here.
Sheri - this is SO BEAUTIFUL. What a moment, what a gift. And how beautifully you've captured it here. Thinking of you on your purple yoga mat. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Irene. A moment like that truly is a gift. : )
DeleteYour poem captures herons perfectly! We have a wildlife sanctuary on a delta here, and they do vanish and appear swiftly, suddenly.
ReplyDeleteYes, exactly - swiftly and suddenly is how she came and left. Thanks for stopping by, Dia.
ReplyDeleteSuch a magical moment! Thank you for sharing this gift with the rest of the world. Your poem is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robyn! It did feel magical - perfect way to describe it. : )
DeleteI was told all my life that if I saw a heron, good things would happen. Beautiful poem, and photo, Sheri. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love that idea, Linda! Thank you.
DeleteLovely poem Sheri.
ReplyDeleteI remember a Great Blue Heron who often landed in the marsh upriver from our swimming hole on the Indian River near Almonte, Ontario. I loved watching his graceful swoop over the log cabin and the elegant way he stood on one leg fishing at the edge of the river. He looked like a wise bird who had seen much in his lifetime but had come to peace with it.
Thanks, Stephen! I love the description of the Great Blue Heron. Sounds like there might be a poem or story in there. : )
DeleteBeautiful! I love it that you took a picture and wrote a poem. Way to capture the moment!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ruth! Since the heron visited a few years ago, that photograph preserved the moment for me until I was able to write the poem just a few months ago. I love how a photograph can hold a memory, in a way.
DeleteBeautiful. The sparse form works very well to convey the stillness and solitude, as well...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Matt! I like how you see the sparse form working for the mood. : )
ReplyDelete