when egrets return to Han River

when egrets return to Han River
ants climbing benches will climb no more
Indochinese moisture will shift to sandy Xinjiang wind
egrets will fly from their tree coops to fish in the waters
leaving rice paddy beasties for something more substantial
when wind whips north from China

a young egret now getting its feet wet
first to eat fish this season
others smell it on his breath 
swoop down the gully
long necks 's'-shaped and legs extended
when the autumn moon shines large and full

in the fertile Han waters they shall feast
safe from humans, no need flying south
Taichung's their home with monogamous mate 
mountainous homes up and away
nesting siblings rivalry's future strength
best colonizers Taiwan has ever hosted

when egrets return, i will be there
though shores of boulder-bolstering tractors detract
overgrowth cleared of all wild factors...
when the bike-ride up the Han turns slow
be pushed back to Beitun without turning a pedal
i will be in front of where the breeze lifts me

resist i not the fresh egret breeze
muting the mufflers in the street
easing me with egrets into the river's crease
so scout on, lonely first egret
to your promised land on rocks midstream
ripples of white water buffeting the shallow marshes

dragonflies gone with summer
gnat eggs hibernating until spring's dawn
fish running realizing they have been matched
their beauty renewed in Han River snatched
by egrets from billowed white and blue skies 
to bring grace to Taichung summer's end

again the typhoon winds are blowing
scattering smoke from burning fields
this is how they pay their dead
winds whipped weed-tinged burners
rote-memorizers and never-learners
again the typhoon tries rearranging*

9-20-15
* added 9-27-15