Corresponding With Herons And Sonny Rollins

Originally posted 2/23/2011.

Left the radio on
and fell asleep; 
woke before dawn
to Sonny Rollins.

So this is why
I corresponded all night
with herons!
I recall long letters
written in dark ink
on creamy paper
with quills lent to me
by green herons
and great blues.

No, that was
a dream, says the 
daylight — 

Sonny says,
who you gonna believe?
Sonny says

go back to sleep,
seek the herons’ counsel;
this argument will keep
as I play: first, a song to accompany
a deep wading into 
night’s marsh;

then, a song
to fly by.