Osprey plunges a mirrored surface,
white water in tumult as it emerges
great dark wings bowed,
sun perch writhing in taloned grip.
Egrets rise like fluttering hands,
and gulls laugh as they loop-de-loop,
perfect barrel rolls,
glide like paper airplanes
feathers pinked in lowering sun.
A heron grey and prehistoric,
flaps great wings,
rises laboriously into air.
Grackles soar in a dense cloud,
giant wave, turn in concert,
sail and dip,
an undulating velvet swath.
Eagles mate in freefall,
entwine, scream, plunge down;
great wings clasp, enfold one another,
do not break the fall.
