The white duck that thinks it's a heron
is poised in the shallow water watching
for fish. Duck you are no heron
you should eat algae and weed, not fish.
But each morning, after the grey heron
has robbed the river’s flood then
spiralled away over wrath faced fishermen,
the white duck waddles forward.
It catches nothing. Except the scorn
of walkers and three bold women
from the canoeing club who test currents
where stream permeates sea, navigate
a family of mallards. Unbroken
through the burn of sun, the white
duck haunts shallow water, watching.
Its own shadow shining and still.
Page(s) 122
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