Blue-eyed Cormorant

I hold to feed, medicate—

Plunges head under

Unzips my arm, wobbles me—

Bloodied animal I am.

1.

I hold Cormorant

As gently as I can—

I must control Her head

I must exert pressure

(how much pressure?)

On Her neck—

Brown foam cradles

Her—Iridescent heaving

As She Panics—

We slow, slow let

Her catch Her breath.

Then, we begin again—

2.

I wrap arm

Around Pelican feel

Sacred pulse—

His wing

They unfold

His wing

Water gushes

Over us, hold him up

To rinse—

"One minute

More, another, one

Minute more—"

Muscles spasm

"Hold wings

To his body—"

Beak closes

On my finger—one

More minute

One minute more—"

1.

Wind pile

Nest bowl

Things-happen

Web-droplets

Astor star

Holes

2.

Fog

Antlers

Pollen maze

Bee-hum

Footprints

Herd-walking

Dust spirals

Tunnels

Salt

3.

Greasy light

Grass rattle

Oak-leaves-click

True-name

Heaviness

Forest eyes

Raven-walking

Spit

4.

Cicada