about the white egret
whose ancestors soared west
from what is called africa
to what is called south america
both vast continents deserving
definition by their natures
and original peoples
not by anglo proscription
and heinous persecution
continents
of places
of origins
of their own
smaller than its cousin the blue heron
the white egret evaded
extinction by diaspora
worked its way north
and west to the far coast
of what is known as california
another vastness deserving
definition only by its nature
and original peoples
not by invading brownfrocked priests
not by merchants and miners
not by pale-skinned murderers
the white egret
stands stark and silent
in verdant meadows
near blue herons hunting
frogs and mice and gophers
near singing red-winged blackbirds
picking at sedges and cattails
and giant red-tailed hawks riding thermals
the common white egret swallows a fish
knows land and water and sky as home
knows surviving as hope enough
knows birth flight hunting and death
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