the gulls who guard the lake
they call them seagulls because lakegulls is not a word
but they are gulls of the lake and it is the lake that they guard
they cry alerts that are too often misunderstood
interpreted as demands for scraps of bread
guardian gulls are not beggars
their reputations are tarnished by ill-mannered gulls who call less treacherous waters home
no one thanks these gulls for their service
but they keep their watch, never sleeping
they know what lurks beneath the waters
they fret, concerned that when the time comes, their warnings may not be heeded.
About flax-golden tales. Photo by Carey Farrell. Text by Erin Morgenstern.