Today the turkey hen returned.

        I watched her eating in the tall fescue,
        bugs, but mostly worms, I think.
        Rain has them of all sizes crawling.

        I watch her for over an hour, maybe two,
        All I can think
        of is: I am happy she is stalling

        today,
        but suddenly I make myself 
        unhappy, quite…

        It hit me the way
        a two A. M. call does: the self-
        same message without the night

        to shroud the news.
        The turkey did not hatch her nest.
        I so expected when next I saw her,

        her hatchling would follow her,
        learning from her pecking teaachings.