What the Heron Brings
Heron stands in dim-lit dusk,
hermit of the shadowed shoals
her silent, stilt-legged silhouette
heralds nothing, no more than
threads of time, unspooling strands–
thousands, like the sun’s rays, or
thoughts, tacit and tattered,
thrilling and threatening, feathered things–
catch them if you can, they’re
carp cast in mind’s golden pond,
capricious and captivating,
calmed by wind-sigh, wing-rustle.
It’s hopeless. I can’t stop writing about birds. 🤣 And the rain is gone, so I got to see “my” heron this morning. This is for dVerse, where Grace’s prompt invites us to write a poem in traditional Mongolian meter. You can read more here.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
This is great… you did it so well, and yours and Kim’s should be published together in a book of bird poetry.
Thank you very much, Björn!
I just read Kim’s–such a delight!
A wonderful obsession Merril.
Thank you very much, Susan! 😊
Not hopeless, Merril – I have a thing about birds too. I love your heron, pictured it standing ’in dim-lit dusk’, a ‘stilt-legged silhouette’ – wonderful descriptions. I also love the ‘threads of time, unspooling strands’.
Thank you very much, Kim! 😊
You’re more than welcome, Merril!
Stunning and I love the wind-sigh, and wind-rustle.
Thank you very much, Colleen! 😊
You’re welcome, Merril.
Your obsession makes for sigh-worthy verses, Merril! So lovely. 💙
Oh, what a lovely comment! Thank you, Punam! 💙
My pleasure.
Captivating read MS! Formmeister!
Thank you, Ron. 🙂
Merril, so lovely and captivating — splendid writing my friend! 🙂✌🏼❤️
Thank you very much, Rob. I’m pleased you enjoyed it! 💙
I love that second line!
Thank you very much!
How can anyone stop writing about birds? You make the alliteration sing. (K)
Thank you so much, Kerfe! 💙
Very well written, Merril. I love to see the heron!
Thank you very much, Dwight. I sometimes spend a while just standing there watching them!
They are beautiful
This is so captivating and I love the spotlight on herons. Your alliterations are glorious with all the t’s in the second stanza, and that soft sounds of wind-sigh, wing-rustle.
Thank you very much, Grace. 💙
It was fun to try. Thank you for hosting!
Never apologise for writing about birds! There’s a heron in the river behind my home who I often see when I walk down there. Uplifting!
Thank you, Ingrid! 😊
I’m glad you got to see your heron again 🙂 I don’t find this form a particularly attractive or satisfying one, but you rose to the challenge and did it beautifully.
Thank you!
I enjoyed writing this–finding the words and alliteration–but I don’t feel like I need to write more. It’s a good reminder though to think about the initial sounds of lines.
Yes, I suppose it is.
I had to chuckle when I saw the title of your poem come across my email. I appreciate that the heron “heralds nothing.” He just “is” and that’s enough. It’s a lesson to take to heart.
Your comment about chuckling made me chuckle. I refuse to stop. 🤣
Exactly right, he just is.
😀
You nailed this form. How daring the way you used enjambment too.
Much❤love
Thank you so much for your kind words, Gillena! 💙
A side note: If you haven’t already discovered it, you’d enjoy David A. Sibley’s What It’s Like to be a Bird. It’s science for non-ornithologists, and very informative. Birds hold endless fascination for me too!
Thank you, Marian. I’ve heard of it, but I haven’t read it.
Looks like we both live Herons. Poetry in motion! Love this Merril!
Thank you very much, Rene!
And that is a problem, why? Do you think any of us are complaining? I assure you, not! And I love this 🙂
Aww–thank you very much, Dale. 💙
I was kind of alluding to a blog conversation where someone said “a very famous poet” told the class not to write about birds, and then someone else said a recent submission call said not to write about herons. 🤣
Hah! Glad you don’t listen to them… 😉
😘
🤗
Such a smooth flow from beginning to end. Herons are quite lovely to study.
Thank you so much!