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                      Cormorant

                      Published by John Muro at December 11, 2021
                      Categories
                      • Poetry
                      Tags
                      • birds
                      • cormorant
                      • nature poetry
                      • poetry
                      cormorant

                      Image created onCanva

                      For a time, it seemed
                      the silence was forged
                      in fog, compressing the
                      tides as if a block of wax
                      was warmed and spread
                      out to the horizon.
                      Or at least as far as
                      that dark drift of
                      sludge, a cormorant,
                      exploiting currents
                      in sleepy drift.
                      Soundlessly slipping
                      below the waterline
                      like a grief or burden
                      accustomed to
                      voiceless vanishings.
                      It’s a well-perfected
                      dodge, smooth as
                      artifice, leaving but
                      a dimpling in black
                      dissolve; the silken
                      folds open and roll
                      back to calm while it
                      pursues silver-blue
                      shoals in watery light.
                      Later rising,
                      in phantom ripple,
                      as a second, lethal
                      self, yards from
                      where our eyes
                      had expected before
                      the gibbering bolt,
                      the abrupt, ungainly
                      wing flap uncrumpling
                      just above water and
                      the fumble into flight.


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                      John Muro
                      + postsBio

                      A resident of Connecticut and a lover of all things chocolate, John Muro has authored two volumes of poems - In the Lilac Hour and Pastoral Suite - in 2020 and 2022, respectively. He is a three-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize, a nominee for the Best of the Net Award and, more recently, he received a 2023 Grantchester Award. John's work has appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies, including Acumen, Barnstorm, Delmarva, Moria, River Heron, Sky Island and the Valparaiso Review.

                      You may follow John on Instagram.

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                      12 Comments

                      1. Tim says:
                        December 12, 2021 at 2:18 pm

                        John Muro makes me want to get outdoors and experience the world he sees. I’m so glad he brings the wonder of life to us to feel with such wonderful descriptions.

                        Reply
                        • The MockingOwls says:
                          December 29, 2021 at 9:45 am

                          Thank you for commenting, Tim. John does the same for us. We’re grateful to work with him and share in the beauty of his world!

                          Reply
                      2. Poetry Reading: Near Uncas Point says:
                        February 23, 2023 at 11:53 am

                        […] Cormorant – another poem by John Muro […]

                        Reply
                      3. Nature’s Whispers of Colours: Poetry says:
                        February 23, 2023 at 12:08 pm

                        […] Cormorant […]

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                        June 27, 2023 at 10:26 am

                        […] for more to read? Check these out from the MockingOwl contributors and authors.StarkCormorantSputter of […]

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                      5. Love Me Today Poetry says:
                        July 8, 2023 at 2:20 am

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                      6. Holiday Poetry: Year of Hope says:
                        March 2, 2024 at 1:53 pm

                        […] Cormorant […]

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                      7. Return Me to Compost, a Poem says:
                        May 2, 2024 at 2:00 am

                        […] Cormorant […]

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                        […] Cormorant – Nature Poetry […]

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                      11. Orange says:
                        November 13, 2025 at 6:37 pm

                        […] Cormorant – Nature Poetry […]

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