Winter Salute

A fleet of tiny brown birds

charges my windshield

changes direction

retreats in formation.

Minutes later they reappear,

perform precision acrobatics

in a blank sky;

banking, rising, dipping, diving.

Forced to attention, I salute

such tactical maneuvers,

so stealthily appearing

so triumphantly gone.

Diane DeSloover is a long time resident of Juneau, grateful for the inspiration to be found in this natural home.