an avocet bends to water
kissing their own reflection
their smiling beak turns skyward
then dips into the wake
curves of birds
mimic shapes of clouds
gulls run in the mud, gulping up flies
only one songbird acts like a raptor—
praise the loggerhead shrike!
the teal stripe in the mallard’s reach
the black-rimmed green eye of owl
praise eight tundra swans against blue
praise the X of a foster’s tern flying toward you
praise the scaly foot of coot, their dirty elbows
praise golden, praise black on white
hot yellow laser point eye—color is light.
crepuscular rays, sparkling bokeh
praise the hulk of heron
perched as if balanced on a pin
curves upon curves
gemstone eye of eared grebe
woodhouse scrub jay’s eyelashes
pictures are feelings
praise beak, neck, back, wing, tail—
praise the pink, pale inside a songbird’s mouth
perspective is important
perspective can be changed.

Wildlife photographer Mary Anne Karren offered a craft talk during the first winter vigil. The lines for this chorus were gathered from the notes of participants. Her lessons on perspective are born of countless hours spent at the lake’s level, on her knees or lying down. She is not one to look down on the birds or water.