Canoeing the Mississippi - Part 6

Like a young girl, early river is inviting, Charms a plenty, but surprising secrets, We imagined potential rapids around every corner, A new born fawn and doe caught drinking, Whole families of hatchling ducks, So curious we could have fed them, Greeting silent canoe as larger ‘mother.' (8) Further down the river, older cousins More attentive to true mother's warnings, Disappeared as if by magic (under water) Foraging lessons adapted to defense now, Dandelion seeds moving with the current Scattered by a child's loving breath and wish A river's view of duck development. A magic too in river's meanders - Sometimes they cut into each other So that one loop votes itself out of action Becoming obsolete to river flow, And wild rice growing there filters even more The rich loam carried by cloud burst erosion Always looking for a quiet place to call home. Poet's Notes: (8) In Nature there is something called the ‘Imprinting Process' where young animals like ducks will follow what ever large animal presents itself if the real mother is absent for some reason. I think that this first group of hatchlings actually thought our canoe was their mother for a short period of time.