American dipper

Do you see a curious stone-gray bird
There in volcanic rivulets splashing
With few a chattering or piping word
When down he dives in clear torrent flashing?
The sun’s joyful rippled reflections smile
While the dipper bathes and picnics awhile.

Bobbing and plunging in a country dance,
Balancing, tilting on long legs yellow-gray,
Set to moving water his varied stance,
We long for wishful moments he might stay.
But off he flies to some other pebbled stream
And leaves you a fleeting afternoon’s dream.

--
​​Gareth Oakes, a native of Minnesota, lives in Oregon. He is an MFA student.