Charles Santiago, 9/18/23
Bok Tower Gardens
Lake Wales, Florida
FEMALE, or NOT, I’m calling you “Sharon”–
Bok Tower Gardens’ own crafty blue heron.
Sharon, you’re wise, for, you’ve found a way
To keep all your hunger pangs, safely, at bay.
MY! you’re so PRETTY—and SO nonchalant.
While preening and preening, you’ll, never, be gaunt.
With one eye, you’re, con?stantly, watching those pellets
Fed to the fish by those Piscean zealots.
Those zealots throw pellets that serve as your bait.
The pellots go PLOP! You, patiently wait.
Sooner or later, you spot the right one,
And, THEN, in an INSTANT, its fish life is done!
A Garden of Eden, Sharon has found.
PLOP go those pellets—Sharon’s around!
I’ll be returning to see you, again–
Sharon, the heron—you’ve worked out a plan!