YVONNE BLOMER

The Great Egret
after The Charter, by Abdel Hadi Al Gazzar (Egypt) 1962

In the painting, the bird stands
on the charter, while industry flaunts
its husbandry of water.

Its eye’s on the strange machine—
a weapon or tool which has no scent, except
of eggs gone wrong and for now makes no sound.

One man looks to flower and clam, the other
to the hollow-eyed goddess, her hands
like Buddhas, perhaps, palm out for peace?

In the painting there’s so much
material, colour, oil,
grit, light and dark.

The heron wonders if it can fly
off, if it is safe to leave this scene,

let the soft paper underfoot flutter in wind,
find fish and fowl in the canal behind.