Kawau in Pomes and Epigrams

Today I told a zoom room
that the native bird I most admired
was te kawau.
A bird that lazes about on rocks
her wingspan steaming in radiant volcanic heat
a Christ the Redeemer of the Hauraki Gulf
and never have I seen anyone take so much
obvious pleasure
in the work of survival
Each duck dive into the fluid world; her emergence
keeping those who watch guessing
Oh! over there.