The Blue Heron and the Hangover

[Dark Shadows]

The blue heron and the white egret cast their shadows on the barren landscape, circling the scum filled pond
The once clean pastures were filled with fly-specked piles of manure
She didn’t answer the door; she was nursing a hangover from the night before with the horse dentist
Leo, her three year-old quarter horse was bloody at the mouth from having most of his teeth pulled
Now the paddock was an isolation area for sick horses.
Both dogs were gone, the last one sat lonely by the side of the road
She nursed her hangover and thought about feeding in the late afternoon
The restless yearling pawed the earth, waiting
Why are the cicadas so loud in the late summer when there is nothing left of the once green landscape? Buzzing, buzzing like some creatures from another universe
The deer grazed in the dry grass, their graceful necks visible beyond the fence line-a buck and several does - they made no noise
An occasional Harley rumbled by, and the dry wind blew the dust around
She nursed her hangover and thought about taking a shower before he called again, maybe the feeding would wait till the morning