Heron, Sturdies Bay

by Jonathan Cooper

A heron taking flight out of water

The ferry washed low in the bay
water swirled the piles,
gurgled the barnacles.

I saw her from the deck

facing away,
stone still
on the salt-shimmered bow.

Horn blast! I bolted for the hatch
fumbled for keys, looked back—

black wings
etched against
the pale, blue sky.

Category: Featured, Poetry