Untitled Document

Of Humans and Their Nature

for some reason every Spring

the same pair of Mallards

a brightly colored drake

and evenly brown hen

land to rest for a while in a narrow

puddle dotted field behind my project

unfortunately for them

also bordered by a bicycle path

there's plenty of room for everyone

the field stretching fifteen to twenty feet

from the path to my back yard

but for these ducks

in the middle of a city

apparently not enough

with my strong pair of binoculars

I could watch them for hours

pondering their rationale

if it could be called that

as to this particular location

in the brief time I've observed them

ascertain they're feeding on

whatever plants are to be found there

and despite the lack of any

substantial water nearby

my own instinct tells me

they might even nest there

if not for a steady stream of

meddling passersby

what is it about some humans?

they just can't leave things alone

simply can't admire wildlife

at an unthreatening distance

small children perhaps to be forgiven

for the want to chase them

but older ones go after them on their bikes

even a grown man

slowly tries to get closer

the Mallards instinctively shying away

eventually harassed to the point of flight

sometimes they return within a day or so

other seasons not till the following year

so irritated

I'm tempted to hang up my binoculars

wait till a small crowd has gathered

and like them

get as close as I can to the ducks

then pull out a shotgun

and blast the birds into oblivion

maybe then

with no ducks to distract us

we can all get on with our own