Morning Splash

A shallow ceramic saucer. Filled with clear tap water. Resting right in the center of the morning sunbeam. I halted two hops back. Tilted left. Tilted right. Clear. Safe. A bath. Highly necessary. Clack, clack. I marched over the painted pine sill. I leaned forward, dipped one black foot over the glazed rim, and tested the depth. Cold! Crisp. Both feet plunged in. The water rose straight to my belly. I dipped low, tucked my red beak down, and gave a sharp, vigorous shake! Sploosh! A burst of droplets erupted outward, speckling the warm windowpane like tiny glass beads. Did I flee the spray? Never. Claws clamped tight against the slick ceramic base. Dripping, alert, and thoroughly refreshed.