The Duck Economy

It's early spring and rains

leave miniature ponds

not deep but attractive to

a Drake and Mallard pair

moving into the neighborhood

settling quacking down.

Not sensing transience

in their comfortable puddle

they get on swimmingly

bottom feeding on the roughage

shoots and grubs appearing

by springtime magic in the water.

I watch them frolic and enjoy

abundance and abode

until the welcome sun and gentle wind

slowly picks their puddle up

blowing it east to be a morning fog

out on further fields

Their fragile duck economy

collapses. They are forced to move

no matter if they love the neighborhood.

Familiar friends, acquaintances,

all are left behind as they flutter off

to start anew, beget their ducklings

upon a better choice of real estate.