I see two beautiful swans floating in a pond,
like soulmate birds together forever.
They look so sublime, and how beautiful
they would look in a painting.
It’s all so grand until a duck with her little
ducklings appears, and the swans begin
attacking the mother duck and her babies.
And the beautiful swans become uglier
than the ugly duckling and so predatory.
I wade into the water, distract the swans,
as they begin attacking me.
But at least the ducks get away, and I
stave off the vicious swans with my cane.

Bob Boyd