herons on the catwalk
true feathered supermodels
with long legs, long necks
graceful detached gait
slender head & perhaps
the only accoutrements
Claudia, Naomi or Elle
are short on — a dagger
shaped bill
languorous flight style
long leisurely wingstrokes
gliding silently slightly
into land with aloof ease
excellent fish catchers
they slowly stalk
or stand stick still, pose
in shallow waters
peering binocular vision
waiting for their chance
to slingshot swiftlunge
bills piercing the surface
like mercies being begged
I love all of this, but that final line? Wow. I. Want. That. Line. 😏 Great piece, garethroi ~
Ummm okay. It’s yours? 🤪
Yes I like it too (even if I’m not quite sure what it means now I’m the cold light of post-marathon. Presumably it made more sense on less sleep.)
Fine predators and well described.
Thanks they’re one of my favourite birds so it was fun to do 😁
Nice how the couplets lead us back and forth between the elegance of birds and the images of the supermodels. I like the shifting images and the wry humor throughout. I agree with Britton – excellent closing.