Poems by Russell Reece

Invasive Species

by Russell Reece

From Canary Summer 2020

Russell lives in the lower Chesapeake Bay Watershed on a remote tributary of the Nanticoke River, one of the Chesapeake’s healthiest and biologically diverse rivers. The area hosts the northernmost stands of bald cypress on the Atlantic coast and the highest concentration of bald eagles in the northeastern United States.

I’d been watching
off and on
the great white heron hunting
in the marsh
across from my dock.
Shy, skittish
once slaughtered
to near extinction
for their brilliant
white plumes.
I didn’t see them often
and this one’s
patience, elegance,
his otherworldly glow
lulled me
into a state of bliss.

And then,
a deep thumping, pounding
Angry Voice shouting

the bird leaped up and flew
downstream as a ski-boat
burbled slowly past
fiberglass gleaming
stainless steel shining
rap music blaring,
thumping, pounding

dock-chairs rattled
my body tightened
Angry Voice shouting
thumping, pounding

bare-chested boys
in swim-suits drinking,
laughing, playing
thumping, pounding
girls in bikinis
lotion slathering
lipstick glowing
floppy hats blowing
Angry Voice shouting
shouting, shouting

then
the engine roaring
the ski-boat jumping
a wide wake forming
down river flying
quickly disappearing
thumping pounding

no herons hunting
no turtles sunning
no songbirds singing,
just the boat-wake sloshing
lily pads ripping
cattails whipping
beer-cans floating
fragile bank eroding
distant engine whining
thumping, pounding