I think that I shall never see
A King Rail nesting in a tree.
These long-necked creatures
Crouch in bogs:
Their long-necked stance
Near reeds and frogs
Makes camouflage
Expertly done:
Invisibility won.
Yes, I’ve seen robins
Egrets, crows
Catbirds — gads,
Sure, lots of those —
The chickadee,
Song sparrow too
The shy green heron,
One or two,
Cooing wood dove
Oriole flashy
Even the jays
Maligned as trashy:
I’m grateful for
Each feathered friend
I’ll sneak through forest,
Park and bend
And honor them —
Binocs to eyes —
But still — yes, still
I seek surprise
And hope to find
My Holy Grail
The “Life Bird” goal:
A Jersey rail.
Susan Matson, a Hightstown resident, works as director of teacher training for ELS Language Centers based in Princeton. When not writing curriculum she is busy raising two daughters, 16 and 21, and prowling the local woods and hills looking for feathered friends to photograph.
