Birdsteps

The birds that walk on water

have tapered feet. They fly off the

tree branches to the bird bath.

They are elegant swimmers in summer.

They swim out to the middle and

dip their heads under. These birds

have beaks of tired sand.

The walk on the beaches at night

leaving their simple footsteps.

A lighthouse, some desperate rocks.

A few of the prints lead out from the

young boardwalk, out to the old sea.

When they shake their wings

in order to fly, a sound moves

from the breakers. It curves its

way up the path leading to the dock's edge

where it settles on the barnacles.

Sometimes on a windy day, it is

the sound of sirens singing. It is

the swansong of ships at sea.