She screams in tangled fury, wings beating against the bitter brush

Her gosling trapped in brickle-barred hold

Father honks from the lake, ‘Faster, Faster, we mustn’t lose another.’

They had already lost one to a stray dog, another to the cold capricious weather

She smashes the sawgrass, hefting her weight into Patterson Island

As her children (safe) sound fear trumpets from the bullrushes

‘Faster, Momma. Faster…’

Her youngling bleats in panic staccato as She bears down – smashing through the snares

Tearing her wings, her breast as only a Mother can

In endless declaration of love