As a Duck

As a Duck


As a duck,
I would have
several ducklings
and explain to them
that they should stay
under my wings
or next to me
because, I would say,
you never know
when some bully
will decide to
create a signature dish
with orange sauce
or infused seitan.

I would explain
to my duck husband
that it would please me
no end
if he would sing me
to sleep
in several duck languages.

I would then dream
of ponds forming
after rain
and running
hourly with new
streams
under our curled toes.

And, to celebrate
my ducklings' new knowledge
in
our season of blessed flight,
 we would all
summer back
to the same place
each early, safe blue
July.