Hollow and Sky

Close-up photograph of a great blue heron in profile against a nearly black background. The bird faces right, its long orange bill extending toward the edge of the frame. Gray, blue, white, and black plumage fills most of the image, with long, delicate feathers sweeping outward from its neck and chest as though caught by the wind. Light falls across its face and breast, drawing attention to its yellow eye and the layered texture of its feathers.

Gray Heron in the Wind – photography by Emma Byrne Hickman

Old Age
			                      --- For my father
We took you back to the heronries where you were born,
high up in treacherous treetops; you fell three times along the way. 
We noticed your long legs tremble, no longer able to balance a stoic stance in shallow waters. 
You fly with slower wingbeats and glide for longer distances.
You’ve stopped offering sticks to pretty women, although you watch them intently.
Now you rest along the water’s edge, contemplating in the wind, offering advice 
to those who survived the first winter.  You are a thriver eager to teach what you know
if only the marsh would listen.

Nancy Byrne Iannucci

Nancy Byrne Iannucci’s poetry can be found in Thrush Poetry Journal, 34 Orchard, The Poetry Lighthouse, Eunoia, and Maudlin House, among others. She is the author of four chapbooks and a two-time Best of the Net Nominee. 

Website Links:
www.nancybyrneiannucci.com 
Instagram: @nancybyrneiannucci 

Emma Byrne Hickman is a nature photographer who resides in the countryside of England. Her photographs aim to capture moments of wonder and awe found in the natural world.

Website Links:
Instagram: @emma_ hickman_byrne