<html aria-label="message body"><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">The Heron</span><div style="font-size: 22px;"><br></div><div style="font-size: 22px;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I am always watching</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">the single heron at its place</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">alone at water, its open eye,</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">one leg lifted </span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">or wading without seeming to move.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">It is a mystery seen</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">but never touched</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">until this morning</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">when I lift it from its side</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">where it lays breathing.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I know the beak that could attack,</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">that unwavering golden eye</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">seeing me, my own saying I am harmless, </span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">but if I had that eye, nothing would be safe.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The claws hold tight my hand,</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">its dun-brown feathers, and the gray</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">so perfectly laid down.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The bird is more beautiful</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">than my hand, skin more graceful</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">than my foot, my own dark eye </span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">so much more vulnerable, </span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">the heart beating quickly,</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">its own language speaking,</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">You could kill me or help me.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I know you and I have no choice</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">but to give myself up </span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">and in whatever supremacy of this moment,</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">hold your human hand</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">with my bent claws.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Linda Hogan</span></div></div></body></html>