Baptism

  by Paula Ashley

A grackle comes to bathe 
in my backyard fountain.
He steps cautiously off the rim
into deep waters
lifts up his wings
flitting sparkles into the air
then fluffs his feathers
and flies up to the nearby ash.

Others come in groups
and shower together with abandon.
My grackle flies in to join the others
only to see them lift their wings and leave
lest they too be afflicted
with the white spot above one eye.

He bathes again
but these are not the waters of Lourdes
or other healing places
only common waters
from a backyard hose connected
by a pipe to the city’s chlorinated supply.

Although his daily sacrament
appears unheeded
he spreads clean feathers to the Arizona sky
his cleansed soul
a testament to prayer and hope
that in this our unclean world
we may someday wash away our spots.