So heavy br is the long-necked, long-bodied heron, br always it is a surprise br when her smoke-colored wings br br open br and she turns br from the thick water, br from the black sticks br br of the summer pond, br and slowly br rises into the air br and is gone. br br Then, not for the first or the last time, br I take the deep breath br of happiness, and I think br how unlikely it is br br that death is a hole in the ground, br how improbable br that ascension is not possible, br though everything seems so inert, so nailed br br back into itself-- br the muskrat and his lumpy lodge, br the turtle, br the fallen gate. br br And especially it is wonderful br that the summers are long br and the ponds so dark and so many, br and therefore it isn't a miracle br br but the common thing, br this decision, br this trailing of the long legs in the water, br this opening up of the heavy body br br into a new life: see how the sudden br gray-blue sheets of her wings br strive toward the wind; see how the clasp of nothing br takes her in.