Intruder

A poem about the natural world and our place in it.

The kayak groans,

annoyed at being disturbed

by my muddy boots.

The Easter egg sky,

blues seeping into the yellow,

reflects on the water,

which becomes radiant.

Cattails sway,

click clicking,

sounding like wind chimes in the early morning breeze.

The water ripples out from around the kayak,

like radar waves, becoming wider, wider

disturbing the wrens.

Startled they screech,

angry at being disturbed from 

their breakfast they fly up into the

watercolor sky.

Green algae foams around

the paddles,

and the water smells rank.

It’s been still too long.

Then around the bend 

I see her,

the regal great egret.

Her slim white neck

dips down into the pond and

comes up with a fish in her beak.

She looks at me then,

in cool detachment.

I am the intruder here

among all this life.

Seeing,

yet never

belonging

Reviews

[emmajoygreen]

Such memories carry forever thoughts. The sight.. perhaps a sudden flit across one's vision is like a mystery meant to be found. You look, you see, you sense that something, perhaps a reminder has sent you into another world.. and.. it has! You write pictorially, sending a nudge. You gift what few do, remind the day to day what vision taps the mind with - in life.. NormaZ

'The water ripples out from around the kayak,
like radar waves, becoming wider, wider
disturbing the wrens.'

[NormaZ]

Thank you Emma!

[emmajoygreen]

I think my English is quickly deteriorating, sincere apologies, NormaZ.

[Robert James]

After a third of a century I just sold my house in the lower Connecticut River Valley, when my daughter was young we would carry our red Old Town down to the river and explore. One summer we spied repeatedly on a family of signets as they grew into swans. That we were allowed such intrusions was a privilege my daughter and I still remark on. Thank you for sharing your intrusions and bring life back to memories of mine.

[NormaZ]

What a precious memory! I’m glad the poem brought it back for you.

[Betty Hermelee]

I think we might all think we're intruders when we are in nature's space, wherever that may be.... your descriptive words make me feel i am in the kayak with you, enticed by all of the surrounding wild life, and at the same time amazed at all of it....nicely crafted piece...Thank you for sharing
Warmly,, B

[NormaZ]

Thank you Betty!

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re very welcome
Warmly, B

[Daz]

This is a very good read. I'm impressed.

[NormaZ]

I’m really glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the review.

[Daz]

You're welcome. Truly It's one of the best I've read in the cafe.

[Ken Simm.]

There is something of everything in this story write. It is informative, romantic, visual and in fact it consumes the senses. Especially towards that wonderful denoument.

[NormaZ]

Thank you for your kind review Ken.