Sleak and smug,
you dipped beneath
the green water
and disappeared.
A simple movement
of effortless grace
that leaves only
the slightest ripple.
I tarry waiting,
wondering where
you will appear.
You never do.
Walking along the Lee today we spotted a cormorant swimming in front of us, but not for long.
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© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Sneha Cecil on Unsplash
He holds his head up high
to look down upon us.
His curled haughty lips
suggest amusement.
I doubt he’s ever glimpsed
his own reflection in
the ripples – unless his smirk
disguises self-denial.
The cormorant’s smile caught my attention as we walked along the Lea yesterday. I’ve grown to love these comical birds, so graceful in the water, yet so clumsy looking in the air or on the bank wings outstretched to dry.
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© Ben Quant 2023
Photo by JJ Harrison licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license
