Soft rain
on dark oaks
Clustered green
curving canyons rise
to velvet crease.
Thick mists consume
stoic cattle,
slowly climbing
verdant slopes.
Meadows gather
new-born lakes.
Delta birds -
grebe and pensive loon,
goldeneye and pintail,
ibis and snowy egret
slowly wade.
With flashing beak
they break
black waters.
(29 Apr. 2013)
