May morning encounter

A mallard wobbled through the bluebells this morning.
I sunned myself on the slatted bench and watched him.

Dabbing in the long grass, he scattered rain-beads,
his glossy green head twisting so dark wary eyes

tracked every move of my smoking-hand. I stood up
slowly and he squawked heavily across the fence.

I heard him plopping into next-door's pond and wished
he'd stayed a little longer. The story of my life.

URL: http://mourne.org/mallard.htm