Two Plastic Pans

By John I. Blair

Two plastic water pans
Sit on my patio
Day in, day out.

They reflect the world
In one-inch depths,
Slake the need of birds,
Squirrels, coons, possums.

Depending on the light
They can be shallow pools
Or infinite mirages.

Just now I looked
And saw the noon sky,
Interlacing branches,
Wispy clouds.

At night, with glow
Produced by flood lamp
Or a waxing moon,
They may be merely water,

Something to drink,
To soothe tired paws
On winter wanderings.

©2020 John I. Blair, 12/29/2020