The Kingfisher

 

Iridescent, his metallic-like sheen, spikes and flashes

against summer’s lightest blue

Aquamarine-tailed jacket

accessorised by a ruffed chinstrap of white

Speeds low level, like a pre-programmed cruise missile

Hurtling, single-minded,

Along the valleys, meanderingly slow river

Desperate, he seeks to support his mate.

This Halcyon’s golden yellow breast

lights up his murderous flight,

like a Belisha beacon 

reflected in the near-clear waters

First this way, then that, under, over,

Covertly mapping the riverscape.

Unseen by the Pisceans, subsurface,

He and his mate are still both young.

He must impress her.

A newfound perch affords cover

Shadowed from detection by tall reeds and rushes

He dives

Like a wingsuit-clad base jumper

Free-falling from the Burj Khalifa 

His long black rapier-like bill

breaks the water's surface ahead of his eyes

Plunging deep into the crystal-clear depths

capturing two unwary small silvered fish

He returns to the surface

But struggles to re-break the water’s tension

with this additional load,

His feathers have become imbued

with the staining of a green algal bloom

Success, but at a price, 

He is tired and must rest

so pauses again on the small branch

A few seconds pass, and he’s off

flying determinedly up the river.

To the future mother of his progeny

Outside their newly built nest, 

on their branch,

he offers her the sticklebacks

She takes it from him gratefully 

and devours his gift

Taking comfort in the fact

he will be a good provider

For their soon-to-be family, 

And to her.