A Slender Perch

The wire rungs of the binder clip offered a solid hold. Bracing one boot on the steel loop, I reached into the weathered knot just behind the clamp. A dry maple seed pod was wedged deep into the wood grain, its papery wing curled like a tiny ribbed sail. I tapped the base with the flat of my dagger until the stem gave way with a crisp click. Sliding the stiff wing beneath the clip's wire arm, I pressed it flat against the cedar plank. Now a narrow, shaded ledge juts outward, catching the soft afternoon breeze.