some kind of giant
black, white, and red on top
striking a pose
I admire the pileated woodpecker. Tall and proud, brazenly bold, its booming sounds echoing through the tallest trees, like some kind of giant banging a heavy fist on solid wood again and again. Unmistakable. It stops me every time. I look and look and watch its powerful beak stab and stop, stab and stop, determined to get the job done. I think of the giant woodpecker as a solitary soul. I rarely see more than one as I do with most other birds except, of course, the great Heron. But this time there were two giants together, both with gorgeous red top feathers and most likely life mates together. That’s a good way to travel. Together.
