Nurture

male swans do not incubate
eggs of their soon to arrive
cygnets

they are however both protective
and present keeping a watchful
eye on proceedings

from cool clear marina waters
on a May morning a cob sails close
a warning for predators

while his mate warms
with her white feathered belly
a brood of nine it is said

her patience and dedicated
diligence is not lost on observers
stood at a safe distance

when on a whim she stands
to shake her booty exposing what
has been hidden

eight grey in colour of a similar
size half covered in dry river grass
and dried reeds

stretching her legs and preening
she shadows her large tidy nest
not leaving it for a second

who am I to suggest
that our own species take a feather
out of the book of swan life

Reviews

[Pete]

by now i'm quite sure that your words reflect what is in the heart. i just witnessed this first hand at the old mill pond i pass by everyday on my afternoon walk. a female mallard duck sitting on nest of eggs at the edge of the water, males gliding about nearby on the water with an occasional squabble. your poetry is real and that is sufficient. we should all possess such a lens for viewing life ... :)

[Chris Shaw]

Many thank Pete. I find so much pleasure looking at the behavior of our wildlife. Pleased to hear that you do too. So pleased you enjoyed where this poem took you.

Chris

[willweb]

Swans are amazing creatures and a gift for us from God. Thier love is eternal and they are so beautiful.
Your poem touches on the beauty, inside and out of these majestic creatures. Loved this Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you will. I have been watching this pair for weeks. They are graceful and majestic creatures. They really care for their young. I appreciate you stopping by.

Chris

[Red Brick Keshner]

A beautiful picture nonetheless. Across the species of the animal kingdom it appears that more of the male of the various kinds are less prone to incubate even to the completion of hatching. A few do but they are not the majority. There are even some species wherein neither parent is around which is a hard state for humans to understand, I presume. Birds of the same feather it has been wisely said, flock together. So the value of motherhood is quite universally cherished and that is a feather like no other.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Freds for your share. Swans mate for life and are excellent parents. We see many on the river although this pair are on the marina lake. I have been watching their progress for weeks. The eggs should soon hatch. Pleased you stopped by.

Chris

[AYVID N]

Such a consummate and caring mother. Beauty isn't her only virtue. I picture the mother swan through your words and my heart warms to her. May her life be blessed and without sadness. They're as great mothers as the human ones. And indeed, so many of our species can learn from her. Loved this poem, dear Chris!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you DIVYA. They are wonderful
mothers, and the fathers are also very protective and caring. Magnificent creatures they are. Love to watch them while we are on the river. They tap on the side of our boat with their beaks early in the morning to ask for breakfast:) They bring all their cygnets with them. It is wonderful to watch them.

Chris

[AYVID N]

How sweet....You're so lucky dear Chris...Enjoy the lovely creatures. They have so much to offer the world.
You're most welcome, my friend.

[Corset]

Family is supposed to be the highest form of love. Happy mother's day to all the birthing persons out there (snort)

Duck

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Corset. Swans mate for life. They certainly care for their own little brood. Thanjs so much fir stopping by. :)

Chris

[John the Baptist]

Interesting point made here, Chris, especially in the last tercet. I'll bet those male swans never have to be ordered to pay child support, either.

[Chris Shaw]

No they wouldn’t John:) They mate for life and are very loyal partners and parents. Thanks so much for stopping by?

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

what you ask in the last stanza?
Oh, but if we only would.
If we would be as loyal to each other...
you create scenery for us to gaze upon...thank you for that, Chris.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you J. Pleased you enjoyed the scenery. I appreciate you.

Chris

[Lorry]

Well, it beats pissin' off down to the pub and leaving the missus to deal with it... If you're the missus at least.
And we think we're the best at everything too! I can't remember why though. 🤔

[Chris Shaw]

Talk about dedication to duty. Partners for life are swans. Dedicated to looking after their brood. Look at us lot. The father of my daughter turned up six hours after her birth. Still half pissed. Thought he’d celebrate early and then had the audacity to ask why we hadn’t got a son. At that precise moment I knew we were done. It wasn’t going to last and it didn’t:))
Swans are cool. Thanks Lorry for checking in. Beautiful day today. Hope it’s sunny up there over the border .

Chris