Bird By Bird
grace a Anne Lamott
Among the ducks, who are autonomous,
come and go at will, no passkey needed, and
the raucous Northern Geese in sabbatical here,
who is the Geese Boss Bird? Is there a consensus?
A vote? Seniority, or brute force to elect a leader
for the familial entity that sweeps the air over our heads,
honking in the wake of whoever's le capitain?
From whom do they get their directions,
their criteria for depart and arrival?
In the parking lot beside the lawn sloping down
to the lake where the birds congregate, I
am as still as a Setter pointing his prey, watching
a family of geese in near approach. Mother
Goose and Big Daddy steer six small offspring
being taught to hunt in leaves and grass.
Baby birds, so unafraid and trusting, I could easily
bend down to scoop one up, but Big Daddy's
in his attack mode. Do you believe he
does not watch you? He does...
Try taking a step or two
Some of the ducks are partners: languidly
dipping tandem heads beneath the surface, while
just beyond their conjugal float, two geese
in need of flight training skid to a ragged landing--
no Go Slow sign in evidence. Then, later,
when the Boss Goose sounds assembly, they
make roll call, revving up their motors,
taking to the air, honking all the while, making
that magic carpet that carries them home.
All in unison now...
Such community!
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