These geese have accomplished what they were born for:
tedious flight north, nest building on a river bank,
eggs laid and warmed. Not least the long
weeks of waiting for shells to crack and voila!
the expected surprise. On murky water
goose and gander float regally with the current,
trailed by the fruit of their goose labour, goose love.
A crow couple clamped to a willow branch.
Four jet eyes nail the goslings, a succulent quartet
that sooner or later will amble up the muddy bank.
The crows rehearse a hoarse caw, caw, caw,
hone beak and claw, practise surprise dives
to disperse goose and gander. With lethal speed,
the crows accomplish what they were born for.
