Of the pond

two weeks ago

three yellow goslings

followed parents

around the pond

last week

they were gone

maybe it was a hawk

maybe avian flu

either way

they are gone

this morning,

the geese swam around each other

in ever narrowing circles

until necks intertwined

she shook her tail feathers

and preened them back in place

he stuck out his chest

and flapped his wings

if he were a rooster,

he would have crowed

life goes on

in ever narrowing circles

5-26-23