Passions of an Odd Chick

Monday, December 6, 2010

I heart Herons

      Some Herons by Mary Oliver

A blue preacher
flew toward the swamp,
in slow motion.

On the leafy banks,
an old Chinese poet,
hunched in the white gown of his wings,
was waiting.
The water was the kind of dark silk
that has silver lines
shot through it
when it is touched by the wind
or is splashed upward,
in a small, quick flower,
by the life beneath it.

The preacher
made his difficult landing,
his skirts up around his knees.

The poet's eyes
flared, just as a poet's eyes
are said to do
when the poet is awakened
from the forest of meditation.
It was summer.

It was only a few moments past the sun's rising,
which meant that the whole long sweet day
lay before them.
They greeted each other,
rumpling their gowns for an instant,
and then smoothing them.

They entered the water,
and instantly two more herons-
equally as beautiful-
joined them and stood just beneath them
in the black, polished water
where they fished, all day.

10 comments:

WrightStuff said...

Stunning!

Buffy said...

Gorgeous and love the background too.

ooglebloops said...

Love your heron - I enjoy seeing them fly over here from one river to another- look like modern day pteradactyls.

Carolyn said...

Me too...heart herons! Your heron is beautiful! God's creatures - always amazing. Your art - amazing too.

Poetic Artist said...

Herons are creatures of beauty. Your is no different.
Hugs,
Katelen

Rebecca Anthony said...

This is stunning!

Jennifer Richardson said...

love...love....love.
Stunning pages of heron
and the poem
relaxed me to the bone.
What is it about art
that does that
so well
I wonder?
Much thanks,
Jen

Terri said...

beautiful!

Toyin O. said...

Lovely picture and words.

LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious said...

Beautiful! I see 1-2 Herons on our river near the river green way where we walk almost every week. I am always in awe of this mysterious bird and how it blends right in with the scenery.