all the gold in the world

Standing at the bend in the river below Kilcullen town.
I am watching the blue heron.
He is sitting on a branch above the water.
A Muslim woman appears at my shoulder
She has been walking quietly in the dusk.
I did not hear her approach.
She is wearing that garment called the hijab which is a sign of her faith.
"What is he?" she says, pointing to the heron.
"He is a sign of the blessedness of this place," I answer.