Otter at Evening

On the edge of winter I waited

standing by last year’s leaves

I thought it must be a robin

rooting for her nest

but a sideways glance told me otherwise

as he, only a few feet away,

groomed himself

 

lithe and leather brown

he seemed unafraid

as we stayed that moment together

until the old couple came by

and I whispered, “shush,”

as he slid back into the river