Lake Snaps
The path to the lake
crosses the rocky creek
by wooden footbridges, winds
under old Monterey pines.
Our two dogs lead us keenly
to the grassed hill slopes;
young dog leaps
for his high-thrown ball
as it bounces. Old dog barks
at their high jinks,
preferring to sprawl and roll
on the tawny stubble.
At the water-bowl for dogs
pink parrots cluster
squawking, heads dipping
right in for sipping.
Through the arched reeds
a dark canal leads
as if for a tiny gondola
lagoonwards.
Hard by the sign
'Please don't feed the birds',
women broadcast bread
to a few snatching quackers.
The larger ducks pose flatfooted
on rocks. One spreads wide
across the entire lake
a slow straight wake.
The small ducks -
all periscope,
no sub - are out
searching the surface.
Someone's model yacht tilts
to the breeze, under radio
control tacks through the fleet
a smart zigzag track.
Periscopes down,
snacks targeted,
tiny ripples,
periscopes up.
Small dogs leap for balls
which missed roll
down towards the water's edge
and lodge in the sedge.
Big dogs, unleashed
from their humans, splash
in to snatch in their jaws
thrown sticks,
dog-paddle back,
bound up the bank,
shake and shimmy,
sprinkling bystanders.
Every lake, however small,
needs an island
for birds to hatch eggs
safe from foxes.
These birds do well.
Tonight we'll hear again
the hungry pained
cry of foxes, and,
if there's no wind,
the om om om, maybe,
of tawny frogmouths
in an old pine tree.
17 January 2007
Max Richards
Ruffey Lake Park
Doncaster, Vic.
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