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THE SECRET POETRY OF COMMON NIGHTHAWKS
By Linda Eve Diamond
Common nighthawks are dark, a solitary breed at heart
disappearing with cool, quiet ease into the complex patterns of leaves.
Wings appear on the breeze—a bird in mid-flight—as if that floating leaf
had seen a falling star one night and made a secret wish.
These birds are called by half-lit skies and the mood-rich music of rain.
Late night in diner parking lots, they inspire songwriters and painters.
Most nights they like to puff strut and fly, boom into a dive,
spend a little time alone with the others.
In flight they write light poems about common nighthawk nature,
how they’re not as common as you’d think—nor are they hawks.
“But names” the chirping poet sings with smiling eyes,
“Names are just another place to hide.”
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(If the common nighthawk above is hard to see at first, look for the red eye, beak to the right, and tail feathers to the left.) :)