A Least Tern fishing
off the bridge at Bolsa Chica
more concerned with its fleeting
prey than by my presence so close
its eyes and Ninja masked crown
following with intense focus
the darting fish below
cast its arrow self down
to break the surface
of the shallow lagoon.
The human who watched
had endangered the Least Tern
with a greed for roads and rows
of dream homes by the sea.
Yet behind the gilded walls
and on the speeding chrome, none
could claim the freedom of this bird.
Emerging with empty beak to perch
and dive again, to miss again
it tried
again. Distracted
from its focus by the
threat
of the watcher?
Walking softly away, a breeze
from the mesa caught, and
I dove
like a Least Tern, breaking
through the surface of thought
to that inner habitat
where I hunt for my humanity
missing again to try again.