formation of fat geese
wings in low overhead
banks right
spreads out to land
on the loud
spoken command
of the leaders
who fly
the outermost positions
of this ragged
half-chevron

they splash down
and start up a racket
just fussing
and carrying on
like flyers
on leave
all boast
and bravado

i sit
in sunny silence
on this table rock
inhaling the cool
sumptuous beauty
of the spring afternoon
'til the harmonica
on my hip
finally burns a hole
in the pocket
of my solitude
and I stand
on the rock
to play

today
i feel good
so i play free
real me
'til i disappear
into a melody
that has a mind
of its own
campfire blue
and bittersweet

i look up
laugh out loud
almost drop my harp
to see
my spellbound audience
long necks
craning forward
gathered
in a semi-circle
at water's edge
in total silence

i laugh again
to realize my responsibility
so!
it's a show you want!

i leap down from the rock
and into
the performance
of my life

i play those lucky birds
everything i dream
i only want
to make it
clear to them
how wild and free
my kind can be
how passionate
how tender
how deep

from all over the pond
they gracefully converge
to listen
in mute wonder
to this creature
who speaks
their rude language
wonk onk honk
heeonk
speaks their language
and can make it sing
like a songbird sings

i bask
in that wonder
i bathe
in that bond
plunge
into mystery
come up
reborn