BardBliss: Ardea Herodias on Lake Erie

A very early cat portrait by Marcy.
"Ernie's Birds"

A bit of summer for those of us in Northern climates:

Ardea Herodias on Lake Erie

We were canoeing
in the lagoons of our great lake.
It was hot and humid and any
bit of splashed water was relief.
My legs stuck to the metal seat
of the rented boat.

We dipped our paddles in,
swung them over, dripping on
thighs, tickling down to toes, and
dipped them in the other side.
After a short time, our rhythms
matched and the paddles created
dancing figure eights in the thick air.

Water lilies bloomed and iridescent
dragon flies flew inches
above the still water.
We made the only waves
as we sliced through lanes of pussy willow,
skimmed over surfaced, sun-searching roots.

We turned toward our left -- south -- and
through the trees ahead of us,
we could see cars speeding by but
we ignored them, trying to believe
we were in a wild place.
Just ahead sat a Great Blue Heron,
perched on a fallen tree.

We approached quietly,
or as quietly as two excited humans can.
We rested our paddles across our laps
and drifted toward him. Silent
in our awe; each of us imprinting
the moment in our own way.
I in stored thought saved to use
later; she in image.

As he took off, he let out a large
white stream of dung.
No need to speak
Heron to translate that.

Without words, we put paddles into
water and followed him to his
new perch, high in a tree.
Even from the greater distance,
his size was overwhelming
and his dignity
apparent.

--Christine C. Reed