Heron

Okay

so I nearly stepped on him

at least as close to

stepping on him as

I could walk on water

and he flew up

pteranadon wings wide

wider than my height

higher he flew to the far side

of the swamp

to become a stump

or indiscernible from one

but I made him out

from his plant partner

and was camera ready

until a mom-dad-bike-baby-cart

came bumping along

and sent his laboring wings through the humid air far far away again

now become

                                              a

                                          treetop

                                           finial

                                            still

                                            and

                                           silver

                                              in

                                             the

                                          sunlight.