WHITE HERON
What lifts the heron leaning on the air
I praise without a name. A
crouch, a flare,
a long stroke through the cumulus of trees,
a shaped thought at the sky--then gone. O rare!
Saint Francis, being happiest on his knees,
would have cried Father!
Cry anything you please
But praise. By any name of
none. But praise
the white original burst that lights
the heron on his two soft kissing kites.
When saints praise heaven lit by doves and rays,
I sit by pond scum till the air recites
it's heron back. And doubt
all else. But praise.
~ John Ciardi, 1916 - 1986
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