I see a duck on a hot asphalt lake
His story moves in the shimmering heat
As summertime visions dance in my head
Songlines hum up from the pavement at my feet
The poor little duck lifts his scorched webbed toes
He’s lost in a world he never thought he’d meet
Looking for a way out he sees only endless horizon
So tired he wishes to rest but dares not take a seat
The searing glow from the cement burns to the skin
Wondering why he ventured feeling the defeat
Something remembered comes and moves upon his back
Outstretched his wings extend and against the air begin to beat
Oh my, oh my, there is escape and into the sky he climbs
Thankful for wings in blessed flight he finds relief
~Mark Schutter ©2014
(I took the above picture a while back while walking during my lunch hour. I came across this duck alone walking across a vacant parking lot. Seemed strange and he seemed lost, so I quickly snapped a picture with my phone. With the temperatures here in the Pacific Northwest being unseasonably hot for only mid July, everyone is thinking and talking about the heat. The phrase ‘A Duck on a Hot Asphalt Lake’ came to me, a play on ‘A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof‘. I found the picture on my phone edited using PicMonkey and then quickly wrote this little poem. Tongue in cheek and whimsical, but we are all looking for some relief from the heat. Hope you enjoy! Have a good one! Thanks, ~M)
