I noticed it noticed me noticing
monochrome cormorant — alone
sat on the slim bare-bark-less branch
the tree was dead to appearance
but dressed in life — this cormorant looked,
craned its neck, twisted in all directions,
making sure the watcher was watched
three
branches
down —
finches tiny and round were spectators
each watching a scene — a part of the play
maybe they’ll join up all their stories to make a whole
the cormorant circled its lengthy neck
raised its long efficient beak to the sky