Edge of Water, Portage Bay, Washington

Standalone heron borrowing a pylon in Portage Bay

accounts payable

according in quarter turns her head by the dial

of her beak to motion under current

until certain. One of seven.

But the night began later.

Even after the soaring bridge hid

the assignation, the dark water passing darker

though. A grade higher, inland, on the return path

the tedium of midges lifted that hung about

kissing level.

Like we left the guild victorious.

From A Several World (Nightboat Books, 2014). Copyright @ 2014 Brian Blanchfield. Reprinted by permission of Nightboat Books.