Neighborhood sentinel

white crested head

blue grey feathered body

still as a sentinel

guarding the shoreline

how do you stand so still

out on the highway

siren screams emergency

get out of the way

I’m coming through

and still you do not move

you step slowly

into the water

stalk sushi breakfast

neck coiled tight

snatch life in your beak

leap into the air

tuck your legs

and fly away

shoreline left unguarded

12-2-23