Ducks take shortcuts

Sitting quietly at Meyer Park
on the banks of Cypress Creek;
no creatures around
but me and the birds.

Crows circle overhead
bespeaking war
and carrion threats.

Ducks float lazily on the creek
down streaming,
occasionally muttering,
fussing, embanking.

Mallards flock -
several males
with singleton hens.

A group of 5 (4 males)
come up the bank beside me,
squawking pleasant banter,
waddle past me to a copse;
they inspect a trench,
perhaps a nest.

The female has lingered
by me - disturbed:
"Well, maybe these bozos
just see you as a bread-feeder,
but I know you
for what your teeth are."

After complaint,
she toddles over
to the nest proposal
and the males.

Then she returns,
asking me again to leave
or state my intentions.

Finally, ignored,
she leads her beaus away,
down the creek,
for more isolated prospects.

LMC 6 Feb 99