Lost Colours. Poem by Geoffrey Fafard

The other day I was walking, no stalking
Some wading water birds watching, no stalking
Their supper knee deep in a lake
Even though they watched me, no spyed me
From the corners of their beady little eyes
Reticent were they to move lest they went hungry
For night was imminent and after dark feeding is tempting fate
So perched in my hide I pulled out my mental palette
And tried to copy the colours in feathers I spyed, but alas no,
Impossible was this task, it was pure wish and fantasy
For as the sun set and the lurking moon darkened
The wading birds had their last lunges and drinks
And flew off to cover of swaying grass and places hidden from me
And I was left to lay in the sweet grass watching colours change
As the breeze and the evening came on to greet me
And the colours still changing stunned me even more
So much so I had to throw my palette away.