the bay is being lashed by a Nor’easter

whitecaps zip along

waves batter the marsh

the wind pushes the tide back

even low tide is a flood condition

storms crash overhead

rain pelts down

the sky and the sea rage in anger

trees sway in high winds

broken limbs litter the ground

a solitary bird perched on a platform

facing into the storm

I wonder what he is thinking

is he patiently awaiting the storm to pass

or is he too tired to seek shelter

maybe he is a storm chaser

reporting back to the birds in shelter

like those crazy TV weather reporters

who stand in floods and lean into winds

clinging to their microphones

As they tell us how bad the storm is

next time you watch the severe weather reporters on location

look for the storm chasing bird on the platform behind them