Thomas's English Swans



Pulled a package of muffins our of the bread bin

Only to find mould had completely done them in

So - bagged them, and took them down to the lake

To feed the swans, who leapt out of water to take ...



The broken-up pieces right out of my hand ...

An extraordinary sight, but an impromptu plan

As they dipped the pieces in the water first

And then wolfed them down to satisfy thirst



At first, biting down hard and snagging fingertips

And then, after pulling back on the next few bits

The swans were more careful on the next bite

Pulling back quicker in order to ease my plight



And then, after just a few more short minutes

The entire six were gone, leaving only tidbits

And as I retreated to untie the dog from a boat

The entire family of seven ascended up the slope



And as we walked away and looked back ...

Those few crumbs disappeared from our tracks

As the swans devoured every little muffin piece

And I walked away ... feeling a quiet peace ...



- Tristram



© Christopher W. Thomas

12:37pm Wed. May 26th, 1999