A sudden vivid flash electric blue

so swiftly straight more sensed than seen,

streaking burrow-wise from his grey branch lookout

over the dark olive green lake water.

 

So fragile no halcyon days are his,

unable to command the creek or river water,

and inexpert divers are the fledglings

often waterlogged and trapped in weed or twigs.

 

Suffering from our pollution-producing habits,

poisoned through their watercreature food,

why call this tiny jewel-like being 'halcyon'

which lives a life so very fraught?