Birdwatching

Giant Wildrye–

Rattle snake’s disguise.

The sun pours heat,

The smog climbs.

Wild oat, glinting daylight.

Backbone Trail, Pacific Palisades,

Mountain Lion lifts her hips to the night,

Hawk plunges, careens, straddles treetops, shoots–

Rounds the corner, canyons fold and crater–

Following suit,

The thrill of your father,

As he’s taken flight.

Written by Shawn McNulty-Kowal