An egret in a roadside ditch

Rushing down the straightaway
Past the urban landfill
I hardly noticed that the roadside ditch
Had filled with rain. Then
At the corner of my tunnel vision
A flash of white
Drew my attention
Away from the traffic-filled road.
There, standing in the muddy water,
Was a snowy egret,
Not six feet from the concrete edge.
The egret,
Elegant and graceful,
Was focused on things that really mattered:
Finding food,
Finding a mate, and
Making sure that the world
Kept on its course
Around the sun.

 
by John Blair