A Shallow Splash

I followed the stone walkway past the fence into a neighbor's quiet yard. In the center stood a sturdy terracotta birdbath. Climbing the notched pedestal took a little grip, but the rim made an easy perch. Inside, a shallow pool of rainwater held a single floating yellow birch leaf. I knelt at the rim and tapped the surface with the flat of my palm. Gentle concentric rings rippled outward, nudging the birch leaf toward the opposite edge. I sat back on the curved rim, watching the tiny waves settle down until the surface turned back into a clear mirror.