It’s been a while since I did this. But about half an hour ago, I challenged myself to make up a rhyme out of thin air. No muse or other silly little inspirational fairy dropped by. I just make a decision, every once in a while, to fire up a skill I’ve worked most of my life to get good at. Lately I have been working on other projects, and I came up against a technical wall that stymied me. So I decided to change the rhythm. And for some reason, I came up with the idea of Cousin Aaron the heron.
The name wasn’t the first thing that popped into my head.
So, I didn’t start out with the idea to write about a bird character. Instead, the first line that flashed across my mind simply referenced where I live now. And the so-called experts say to write what you know. So I wrote, through the backdrop of a city twinkling on the Emerald coast. And I looked at the line for a couple minutes and then started writing what bubbled up after that. It took me five lines before I came up with…
Cousin Aaron, the Heron
Through the backdrop of a city twinkling on the Emerald coast,
A reflection in the water of a heron on a post,
But the sun is in my eyes and I can not make out its face,
So, I’ll make up my own story as to why it’s in this place.
I will call him Cousin Aaron, and I bet he made some plans
To enjoy this sanctuary from the winds and pelicans.
And he just wants peace and quiet and a break from all his chores.
And he’ll get it from the rhythm of the waves up on the shores.
Several seagulls, circling tourists, check him out as they fly by.
Cousin Aaron couldn’t care less. He just hears a lullaby
In the waterfront cacophony of birds and winds and sea.
He’s oblivious to everything and that’s interesting to me.
But I must admit his lack of action, sleeping on that post,
I’ll go look for other twinklings somewhere on the Emerald coast. © 2026 TF
Get Tony’s Daily Devotional delivered to your inbox for free.
I share it with believers who want to focus on the power of God’s love and rightly divide the word of truth. Spend your time reading, listening, and watching good stuff based on the power of God’s love instead of looking for it. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.
