The Poetry Well is a monthly column that showcases island poetry. This month includes a poem by Vashon’s second poet laureate, Ina Whitlock.

GRACE

Triangle of white tail

under-feathers pale,

black-winged bellows

— great Bald Eagle —

raptor, lands in spring hay

so close, I flutter

watching the watcher’s

crescent beak, gold eye

scanning rodent prey.

I want the moment to stay,

but in rapid flapping

— Bald Eagle gone —

I am left to count

the blessing of

this uncommon day.

Whitlock said that after years of making art, she discovered writing and poetry. She “felt the need to say more in a different way, to express myself by catching nearly forgotten moments or trying to give tangible evidence to elusive thoughts.”

While Whitlock was surprised and honored to be Vashon’s second poet laureate from 2013 to 2015, she said the title also inspired her to self-publish two books of poetry — “Origins Endings” and “Moments Out Of Time.”

“Poetry themes blend into other poems,” she said. “Some poems write themselves, others take time and revision. I find the process challenging and rewarding.”

Vashon Poets Laureate was established by a group of interested writers. The group keeps a list of poets and those who appreciate poetry. Anyone who would like to be added to the list should contact susan.lynch@goddard.edu. The group also holds April Poetry Month readings with Voice of Vashon and an ongoing open mic series, often held at Vashon Bookshop.

“I am happy to say that we have a strong community of island poets,” Whitlock said. — Juli Goetz Morser