escher poetry — [K]

sunny shallow river
fifteen tall men wide
fish to feed
a colony of ducks

sun yolk ducklings
a wandering five
sibling interplay
cool water churn

mum
on the far bank
dozing
or distracted by jousting drakes

an elegant heron
a cleopatra
visiting this ha’penny opera
upstaging hapless actors

the fluffballs’ small faffing
flusters the heron’s hunt
she steps sharply towards
small fry for the interlude

fuck said the duck
that’s how it sounded
she launches into summer water
tries to rush across

the heron continues
her acrid jag walk
ignoring the confused young
like the queen she is

later
mum arrives
checks her babies
all there