WE KEEP TO THE TRAIL
in pedaled parallel
while in the water
one male Mallard
rudders into view, tracking
a mother
and six ducklings
who shift phase
instantly:
straight
tight
pairs
behind her gliding helmet
of feathers
tense go the treads
of all our wheels and basins
buses
yellow with children
ride the highway above
by Therese L. Broderick
NOTE: The above poem is a revision of “Followers” which I posted on this blog as entry 5:13.
