Otter in shadows
You can see where he is, little seeker,
by the sparkle of bubbles escaping from his fur,
a surface shiver fizzing among bladderwrack.
When he starts rummaging in nests on the skerry,
the heron flaps off,
a flag signalling end of race.
We watch death happen.
Terns squeal unceasingly,
lift like ash off a burned-out fire.
Mandy Haggith lives in Assynt, Scotland, and teaches Literature and Creative Writing at the University of the Highlands and Islands. Her books include four poetry collections, a tree poetry anthology, a non-fiction book about paper and five novels. www.mandyhaggith.net