Osprey in 3

I

The osprey that flew in a circle near Aunt Carrie’s,

While I walked my young children down the small path in between the restaurant and the night club,

On the same day I saw what I think was my first red-winged blackbird.

While it may not have been my first, I know it was my children’s,

As such my thrill was genuine, as was theirs.

And then we spotted the Osprey

Circling as if, we thought, it had nothing at all to do,

Just as we were seemingly wandering aimlessly.

Suddenly it darted down at top speed,

Perhaps 50 miles per hour.

We all noticed.

It rose from the water with a fish in its mouth.

One chance and one catch.

II

The ospreys of Chatham have at least two homes.

My family knows them well.

One in a residential neighborhood on the way to the Nature Preserve looks like a house.

It is perched on the top of a telephone poll and measures at least 8 foot by 8 foot.

We could watch them from afar and see the older ospreys feeding the young.

The other home sits at the Chatham Anglers baseball field on the left field foul line.

Both have been there at least twelve years.

III

I thought one looked like it had food in its talons.

But the other, I could see clearly, had a branch.

It then occurred to me, that both were carrying building supplies

To build a new home.

And, like the big baby I am,

I was moved to tears.