A Sheet of Ice

I waddled out onto the front porch into the chilly morning sun. Resting on the wooden planks beside a terracotta saucer was a smooth, shallow circle of ice from last night's cold. I leaned close and nudged it with my bill. It felt glassy and slick, letting out a sharp little tick. Slowly... I stepped one orange foot onto the middle. The ice held, but fine white lines spiderwebbed beneath my toes, catching the pale sun. I settled down against the rim, watching the bright reflections stay very still.