Trees reduced to charcoal sketch
violate
across the water
expectations of privacy
and
herons stand in outsized
silhouette
stilt-legged
backward-kneed
glaring
through the missing walls
as they settle
into great tufted seussian
nests

this moment
exists surrounded by water
island
of perspective

I claim it as mine
but there is no carrying
beyond me
so it ends

Farther edged along
a man
yells to me
from his vantage
gestures down the river
at the silver-black flash
of undulation
watered lion

He waves me closer
hands me his binoculars
pleads
see what I see

but there is no carrying
beyond him
so it ends

with what I see

islands
all

around

icy wind
laughter
shrills

.