Laurie Kuntz          West Palm Beach        (Lúcia Leão)
Anhinga Drying Her Wings

Where has she flown
for the need to stop 
on a lily pad and spread 
wet tipped wings
under the ebb of day?

What venture caused 
her to dive into this lagoon 
black with its endless bottom?

Who are we, passersby, 
to disturb her stance 
on reeds fragile to sight 
and thought of these steps
we both make on sandy roads?

Under waning suns
winged and footed journeys 
are beginning anew
and ending, marked 
with the coming 
of first snow and last rose.
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​Originally published in Poetry Breakfast
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