The Heron and the Minnow

She is the innocent minnow gliding through the shallows taking shelter from the heat in the heron's looming shadow She was born without the guidance even animals seem to know must be taught to their young ones through the years as they grow He is the heron that smoothly and slyly slips into the pond with his patience well practiced to attract lost and lonely ones He was raised without the knowledge that gets passed down in the nest great wings are meant for flying not suppressing gentleness She is fortunate in this world with kind strangers here to teach with the heron bent to strike they help lead her from his reach