One By One Poem by Kay Bressner

A Louisiana Heron stood
on one yellow leg

then with opposing twiggy toe
began to scratch his curvy neck

preening in the Sunday sun
by the water's edge.

From the muddy bank,
a turtle in shiny helmet

watched the jumping fish
at home in their environment.

Ibises like ornaments
paused beneath a tree

list'nin to fountain music,
all these tropic folk and me


One by one I began to toss
yesterday's troubles
into flowing water.