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| Image / Dmitry Voronov |
Ode to a White Pelican Left behind for weeks in the wetlands. It’s rare
to discover a pelican alone. His safe harbor,
the same area in Pool 1 behind a grove.
His stately posture. Huge, stretchy throat pouch.
He can still feed on carp. But we’ve never seen
him fly. For weeks, we check up on him like doctors
on daily rounds, taking turns with binoculars.
Worried that we’ve lost him this time.
Relieved to find him roosting on the grass.
On more than one occasion, an egret companion.
Once, another pelican perches in proximity until
it flutters its great wings, lifting off to join the flock
swirling into a descent into Pool 2, the light from
the setting sun shimmering off their wings.
Our pelican’s squadron returning to the wetlands?
In past seasons, Pool 1 was their fishing ground.
Despite the flock’s gregarious gatherings in Pool 2,
our pelican friend remains solitary. On each excursion,
we crane our necks to locate him.
Until one day— just an egret.
First appeared on Chewers by Masticadores © Barbara Harris Leonhard
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| Barbara Harris Leonhard |
Barbara Harris Leonhard is the author of Three-Penny Memories: A Poetic Memoir (2022) and The Lost Book of Zeroth (2025). She is co-author of Too Much Fun to Be Legal (2024) and BroKen Rengay: Unruly Poetry (2025). She’s a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominee. Trending Poets named her Poet of the Year in 2023 and 2024. Her poetry has been translated into Italian, Albanian, and Chinese. She is the Editor for MasticadoresUSA and FEED THE HOLY. And Co-Bookshelf Editor on LatinosUSA. Her blog: Extraordinary Sunshine Weaver.
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