Ten Feet (not Twenty) Overhead – v10

Up ahead of me

To my right, at about 2 o’clock

Around the point before me

A burst of squawks and the

Beating of heavy wings

Filled my vision

The head and then the long endless body

Rose before me, turning

Right over

The spine of my canoe

The Great Blue Heron

Blocking my vision

No more than ten feet above

My open jaw

And transfixed eyes.

It flew toward me

Thwump, thwump

I heard the wings breaking the

Early morning stillness around me

The majestic bird, rising,

Cupped its sails, silently,

And hovered for a moment,

Or a lifetime, drawing it to me,

Directly above my right shoulder

Each feather was visible -

Rust, cream, slate,

And light blue eye shadow.

The feet and legs stretched behind

Tows, talons, pointed to cut through the air

My head rolled backward to watch

The bird fly off

Across the lake

A precious gift to start my day.

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edited October 29, 2015

ten feet overhead – v10

(editing original)

edited August 21, 2015

Ten Feet Overhead – v9

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/08/ten-feet-overhead-v9.html

(editing version 6)

edited December 9, 2014

Ten Feet Overhead – v8

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/12/ten-feet-overhead-v8.html

(editing version 6)

edited April 3, 2014

Ten Feet (not Twenty) Overhead – v7

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/04/ten-feet-not-twenty-overhead-v7.html

(editing version posted 5/3/2004)

Edited September 20, 2012

“Ten Feet Overhead – v6”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/09/ten-feet-overhead-v6.html

editing the 4^th version (the one with Marie Harris input)

&

Edited September 20, 2012

“Ten Feet Overhead – v5”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/09/ten-feet-not-twenty-overhead-v5.html

(editing the 3^rd version)

inspired by reading it at Poets’ Corner

monthly poetry reading,

at the Suncook Senior Center

September 10, 2012

&

Saved as separate file and reposted

September 20, 2012

published version – 2/7/2004

“Ten Feet Overhead – v4”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/one-morning-on-swains-lake.html

Written June 18, 2001, edits June 21 and June 22, 2001, based on input from NH Poet Laureate, Marie Harris.

&

The evolution of the poem - Ten Feet Overhead”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/05/evolution-of-poem-ten-feet-overhead.html

The three drafts below represent the evolution of a poem, "Ten Feet Overhead", based on a morning on Swains Lake in Barrington, NH in 2001, reading down from 1st draft to a second version, finally to the published version, posted here on 2/7/04. 

&

“Ten Feet Overhead – v3”

June 21, 2001

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/05/ten-feet-overhead-final-version.html

“Ten Feet Overhead – v2”

June 22, 2001

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/05/ten-feet-not-twenty-overhead-second.html

“Ten Feet Overhead – v1”

June 18, 2001

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/05/ten-feet-not-twenty-overhead-first.html

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 39,850+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.