Paul Willason Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

Swans

I wonder how aware they are,
what shadowy sense of self
occupies their brain. Perhaps 
no more than a flicker 
of consciousness glows 
in the far reaches 
of an inner dark,
sufficient to propel them 
here and there for food
and find a mate,
just printed circuits of flesh
programmed for survival.

They seem content 
in their grace, moving gently
through the sunlit water,
swimming towards me. 
What picture do they have
of me. Am I just a shape
categorized by the level
of threat I pose, a button 
for them to push to get
a piece of bread, an oddity 
in their way.

And yet we are here,
knitted together in this gifted
moment, alive, each encased
in an identity, confined 
to our little bubbles of being, 
floating the surface
of some infinite
and unfathomable mystery
where all minds meet -
although I'm eternally grateful 
that I'm not a swan,
I don't like cold feet.

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John Lawless May 18, 2024 at 9:17 AM they have apparently mastered the "eat, drink, be merry" mantra...nicely written Paul. I have an agreement with them...I don't fish near them and they don't practice take-off and landing over my kayak Paul Willason May 19, 2024 at 5:21 PM I envy them. The swans here have been programmed instinctively to avoid fishermen but do practice accuracy in the aerial dropping of waste upon kayakers...territorial thing I suppose. Good to hear from you John...many thanks my friend.

David Kavanagh May 18, 2024 at 5:33 AM You certainly have an inimitable talent for looking past the spectacle at hand Paul, and attempting to analyse true reality, I think your second stanza is probably as close as we can get to accurately describe the swans pov, you certainly don’t have cold feet for depth of reason, another class poem beautifully presented and written, a joy to read, cheers David Paul Willason May 19, 2024 at 5:15 PM Sometimes get carried away on such flights...often even the most innocent question cascades into the profound, ripples across the pond of the 'big imponderables'. Many thanks David for joining in, providing such kind words. Very much valued, Paul

Lin Lane May 18, 2024 at 3:28 AM Pen to Cob: "Darling, humans are a strange breed, and very disloyal creatures." Cob to Pen: "They are a warring race. Always ready to kill each other. I fear them." Paul, I think many other animal species are aware of barbarian humans. The race that is far too beastly to each other, and yet they call other species, 'beasts.' I think I would prefer being a pen. Your poetic voice speaks loudly in these lines. Paul Willason May 19, 2024 at 5:09 PM Fear that the coversation you overheard between the swans has a uneasy truth dear Lin...we tend to endow our species with superiority because of intelligence which we unfortunately employ to devise more means to destroy. If only swans had neoprene sox...might reconsider. Big thanks for reading and commenting my friend.