Depth of field is amok
under the scan of the sacred
kingfisher which suddenly
huddles down – giving in,
resting, shutting off to possibilities,
taking time out? – into a confluence
of breeze and mating songs & rituals
of other creatures at eye level or
down below, or even slightly
above. And I looking on –
slightly – mouth closed
as the sharp beak
closes on adverbs.
John Kinsella is an award-winning Australian poet. His most recent collection, Insomnia, is published by Picador.