Devil bird, feathered mermaid,

Stretched-winged fairy crucified by the weight of water,

Graceful, patient, and theatrically still:

When I see you sunning your glistening black body,

I can’t shake off this feeling that what’s special about you 

Is the blue outline around your eye,

Your yellow beak jutting out of your face like a luminous shard,

And your pliable neck bending in the shape of a möbius strip,

Or the hook of a fishing rod.

Sometimes your iridescent beauty takes the form of obtuse triangles

For all to see and for none to touch 

Except when the sun casts a resplendent overlay, 

Transforming your black body into a deep, metallic blue vinyl wrap.

You are forever beyond yet within the grasp of our eyes,

A silken silhouette emanating light

Perfectly angular,

Anhinga, queen of the Florida wetlands.