The Dandy
Quite the dandy drake is he.
With emerald green hat
and orange painted toes
he poses and preens
upon the hillside for all to admire.
Fancy white neckband
atop a chestnut colored vest,
he is sure to please the ladies.
His dappled gray suite of fine quality
is adorned with a hanky of smashing blue.
But all of this is fickle indeed,
for how nice would it be
if he didn't fly off but stuck around
to help with the raising of the babies!
by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, 4-5-11
The poetry prompt today from "Kells" daily writing prompts is: Write a poem about facts (or wierd facts) that you know. Well, I was shocked to find out that Mallard ducks do not mate for life as I loved the book "Make Way for Ducklings" when I was a child and it made it seem the pair lived together "happily ever after"! But no, the male abandons the family (when the eggs are laid) and sometimes starts another relationship. After mating season, the male "relaxes" during molting season in a secluded, food-rich spot leaving the female(s) to incubate and raise and protect her 8-13 ducklings.
The following photo is for "Black & White Wednesday" and "Weekend Reflections" which I will hook up with later this week:
13 comments:
May I be the first to say he sure is a beautiful duck, or should I say handsome. The colors are stunning. Love your poem too, Margaret. Enjoy your day.
great poem! loved the 'zing' at the end. :)
a beautiful verse for a beautiful duck...yes sticking around to raise the young would be a nice gesture...smiles.
Wonderful poem Margaret, and I did not know that either. Guess I just went by what I learned through "make Way for Ducklings" also!!
Love it Margaret. As usual, you are amazing!
Oh, it is such a delightful poem. I am really glad I came by to read it. Such a cute drake :-)
Thanks for sharing!
Carol - I really can't wait for all the seasons of this place to be recorded with my camera.
Texwisgirl - I was truly surprised at the fickleness of the drake! I look forward to more blue heron captures, that is if your grand fellow sticks around.
Brian - My captures came out fairly well I think because I used a tripod.
Lisa & Patty Ann - Thanks! I guess "Make Way for Ducklings" is really a fairytale! ;)
Mariya - I truly thank you for taking the time to say so! He was hard to capture as he was busy chasing her...
He sure looks like a Dandy Duck to me...
He's quite a looker, and your words give his such personality!
dandy and stunner :)
how silly some females can be.
Jinksky, Eric & Trisha - I am having so much fun taking my walks here - I photographed a duck I've never seen before and will be posting it here soon. They really chase each other around - trying to impress the ladies I guess.
The sudden complete reversal is very funny.
Despite apperrances, birds (
human beings) real life would be very different.
I need to be careful all people aeound me.
Well... I'm devastated to learn that Mr. Mallard didn't stay around to help with Quack,Mack, Jack, Oack, and all the others in the Boston Gardens! I wonder if Robert McClosky knew...
But - absolutely gorgeous photograph
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