One Poem by Joan Leotta

 

With my Binoculars, I Watch a Swan Family at the Pond

During a Summer Sunset

 

Mother and father Swan

stand back in the reeds

as their goslings splash

about, a few yards away.

Suddenly, Papa Swan caress

his mate’s neck quickly

an intimate gesture,

perhaps a suggestion 

for activity after the 

tiny ones are nestled 

in and sound asleep?

Mama turns her head,

blushing, I’m sure,

if birds can blush.

 

They are just far enough

away so they can watch

the little ones but the goslings

can ignore them.

 

Sunset’s soft orange glow

suffuses the scene, a time of

change, reminding me

that childhood, like this day,

is ending, and

soon these birds will be

actual empty-nesters,

perhaps missing

evening splashes with

childish laughter, a need

to steal moments of intimacy.

 

At least that’s how

it went on our family’s

summer evening

beach excursions.

Joan Leotta - is a Poet, Author, Story Performer “Encouraging words through Pen and Performance” Folk, Fairy, and Personal Tales of friendship, kindness, food, family, and strong women. Now also Presenting Author visits by Louisa May Alcott.

As writer, Joan has been nominated for Pushcart, Best of Net, Best of Micro fiction, Western Peacemaker Award Awardee in Presswomen, Robert Frost, Silver Arts, Dancing Poetry

"Feathers on Stone" poetry chapbook available from Joan and at

https://mainstreetragbookstore.com/product/feathers-on-stone-joan-leotta/