Ode to Coots

Coot, shape of moon

Coot, shape of sun

horizontal greenlake

hunting ground

shelter hydrozoa

dirudirea

shadows napping

she’s hungry

greedy Coot,

balloon bird

let your helium out

before you float off

aquatic gasp

the shadow returns

Chen Roulin’s

stunning return

for sixths

oh Coot,

spectacular

Circle Bird

take me with you to

Hades

show me Cerberus

Conchostraca

let me break bread

with you

over nectar

ambrosia

Coot,

you’re the

pomegranate seed

that blocks out

the sun