(trashy)

After the rains
the shore has
a trashy look –
hard to say
exactly
what has changed
dog paws
sink deeper
beer bottles
stand out
although
there are not
really more
of them.
Somehow
the mud seems
dirtier.
But he coots
& stilts like
it.
Busily pecking
searching & pecking,
searching & pecking,
searching & pecking.
Throwing water up
on their backs
to bathe.

Hoisting their
hind ends
up as they
skoot into the
water.
A foursome
cluster close
& raise their
voices
until some dispute
is settled
& they return
searching &
pecking
along the shore.

2/4/00