EGRET Michael R. Collings c. 5/95 =============================== Three times I've seen the egret--no, four times if I count that once when, turning past rocks hot and bare in May, I saw one in the burned-off field--stark white against ash black. But three times (at least) I've seen him/her not two miles from my dry suburban home. I've seen him/her glide hot air above golden weeds on the freeway offramp, glide past oaks centuries old, past poppies that would die in July's heat, past concrete rivers that will outlast them all. Three times I've seen the egret wing--white, calm, silent memory. ======== ========