Friday, April 5, 2013

Poetry Friday - Heron

Happy Poetry Month!


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. 



14 comments:

  1. 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. :)

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    1. Thank you, Irene. A moment like that truly is a gift. : )

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  2. Your poem captures herons perfectly! We have a wildlife sanctuary on a delta here, and they do vanish and appear swiftly, suddenly.

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  3. Yes, exactly - swiftly and suddenly is how she came and left. Thanks for stopping by, Dia.

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  4. Such a magical moment! Thank you for sharing this gift with the rest of the world. Your poem is lovely.

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    1. Thanks, Robyn! It did feel magical - perfect way to describe it. : )

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  5. I was told all my life that if I saw a heron, good things would happen. Beautiful poem, and photo, Sheri. Thank you!

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  6. Lovely poem Sheri.
    I 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.

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    1. Thanks, Stephen! I love the description of the Great Blue Heron. Sounds like there might be a poem or story in there. : )

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  7. Beautiful! I love it that you took a picture and wrote a poem. Way to capture the moment!

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    1. Thanks, 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.

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  8. Beautiful. The sparse form works very well to convey the stillness and solitude, as well...

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  9. Thanks, Matt! I like how you see the sparse form working for the mood. : )

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