Denizens

I worry about the herons and egrets in a nearby pond which in recent summers has posted warnings about the toxic water as the dog days of August emerge.

Denizens

An egret paraglides from autumn's sky,

descends to a pea-green liquid scullery.

His ally, the heron, already on scene,

swivels his neck like a scout decoding

                                                    shadows.

They hide among the reeds, freeze

motionless as marble at footfalls.

They share a common enemy: humans.

But marksmen no longer hunt the birds.

Now, people marvel at these long-legged

beauties, then unwittingly undermine them

with runoff from treated lawns.

Neither crane can read the language:

warnings about toxic algae in the pond.

Desperate for rations, they return

to ransack this back kitchen.

When these two finally head south, behind

the lines, and can eat what they like,

they may find Charon cooking their food.

Thanks to their summer's deployment.

Marilyn Aschoff Mellor