LA MARJAL DE PEGO



Today I walked in the Marjal de Pego, a natural park of wetlands adjoining rice paddies. After days of rain the area was flooded with overflowing ditches and puddled 'caminos'. The marsh is a safe home for water birds but I was surprised to see higher banks turned over by wild boar, the muddied grass churned up and pocked with hoof prints. 



LA MARJAL DE PEGO

Marsh waters ripple as cool breath
sways gangly reeds, freeing puffs
of downy fluff from sepia pokers.

Egrets wade on straw stilts,
snow plumed flock rise in
fluttering fan when footsteps near.

Dragonflies flash turquoise in
jewelled courtship whilst heron
scans, poised in marble elegance.

Glass marsh mirrors moody sky,
pierced by low sun as clouds
drift through blue to dove grey.

Breeze sighs over fish bubbles,
whisper adorned with bird trill,
fierce wings flap as heron flies.




 © 2018 Jacqueline Knight Cotterill.  All rights reserved. 





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