Legend has it, in these parts at least, that the Ibis is the last sign of wildlife to take shelter before a hurricane hits, and the first to reappear once the storm has passed.

They descended last year, en masse, after Dorian had cleared our shores.

Returned the day after danger, to forage for grubs, as if nothing was ever the matter.

We stepped out this morning to a flock of them landing in the neighbor’s yard.

Cars slowed, people stopped and the world around us paused.

For just a moment, we were all connected.

We didn’t question which side of the hurricane we were on.

We were held together in a sigh of relief as the tense air and rising pressures of upcoming storms dissipated and for just a moment, a truce was called, and we were all at peace.