White Calm

EGRET
Michael R. Collings
===========================
Three times I've seen the
egret--no, four times
if I count that once
when, turning past rocks
hot and bare in May,
I saw one in the
burned-off field--stark
white against ash black.

But three times (at least)
I've seen him/her not
two miles from my dry
suburban home. I've
seen him/her glide hot
air above golden
weeds on the freeway
offramp, glide past oaks.

Centuries old, past
poppies that would die
in July's heat, past
concrete rivers that
will outlast them all.
Three times I've seen the
egret wing--white, calm,
silent memory.