April Prompt 5
Comstock Lane was dug into the
Signal Hill hillside and on one
side a 15 foot embankment lined the road
on the other side, houses were built.
Before Freddy moved in
when I was just old enough
to go out on my own,
I would crawl on all fours
to the top of that embankment
feeling like the king of the mountain and
then I‘d slide down
pulling soil and rocks all
the way to the bottom
with me to the road,
my shorts layered with dirt.
Laughing, I’d crawl slowly
back up to the top to
feel high up and tumble back down,
filthy, damp, happy.
I don’t know when I stopped
believing it was fun to tumble
down a short hillside
my clothes encrusted with dirt.
I wonder if plant life took over
roots filling the loose soil so you wouldn’t slide?
Or did I just grow old?
There are many
ducks in the pond today
it’s hard for me
to not
think they are
just making
food for those
larger beasts,
but I suppose that
is
what the food
chain is all about.
But when I sit
here,
watch their mating
rituals
it’s hard not to
think of the sweet
trickles of
courtship
It’s hard not to
think of
all the loss
mother duck must feel
as her foe steals
her eggs.
Male mergansers
speed across the water
streaks of white
racing about
Wood ducks must be
in their trees today
a strong breeze
pushing the water aside
The teal and
mallards fly more often,
chasing each other
in and out of splashing water.
I have questioned
them, tried to ask them,
they don’t stop to
hear me. Ducks
maintain active
lives.
They can’t afford
to stop and listen
or just don’t want
to
as the wind picks
up and waves appear.
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