Bird Snaps
Drifting grandly over the lake -
the biggest water-bird we've seen!
Great black and white cantilevered
sections, and a pendulous throat pouch.
This pelican must have just dropped in
having tired on some long eccentric flight.
On the bay we've seen pelicans, eight
or so at a time, cruising, flying short
distances. Will this one stay?
or, better, be joined by a partner?
Later, we photograph it.
Later still, we look and can't find it.
End of pelican episode, it seems.
But the camera shop this evening
promises us a packet - a pouch - full.
And googling 'pelican' brings up:
Australian pelican...
travels wherever there are fish,
to Lake Eyre when not dry,
and 'as a vagrant to New Zealand'.
Also known to catch, drown,
and swallow seagulls, beak first.
Well, our lake never has seagulls.
The printed snaps prompt forgetfulness,
restore our slow-motion
silhouette of serenity,
rectangles of ruffled lake water
each with a central
tiny quadrilateral
of black and white.
- Wednesday 24 January 2007
Max Richards
Doncaster, Victoria
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