Over the shoulder blade escarpment
The dark cloud hangs heavy.
Below, the grey lake barely ripples.
In the wheaten reeds
A squeak-bark of a coot chick
Keens a call for all:
I’m here, I’m here.
Find me, Feed me,
Comfort me, Cossett me.
Forage for me,
Seek me, Seek me.
Mother, Mother.
I’m here, I’m here.
Katy Staples
Image: Young coot (Fulica atra) by Evelyn Simak CC BY-SA 2.0
