Golden goslings scuttle in a line
mother’s wings point, they align,
hustling to the river.
Father hisses at the stranger
–any possible source of danger—
parents are the givers
protecting their young
with honks, squawks, or tongue,
till from the river
fledglings fly away—
in time, somewhere, someday
Lillian is hosting Open Link Night at dVerse. This is a quickly written poem inspired by a walk I took this afternoon at the park by the river. I hope it’s not too treacly, but the baby geese were so cute, and I was fascinated by the family drama. I watched the goose I’m calling the mother shoo the babies towards the river. The father then hissed at one who was off exploring on the sidewalk to get with the others (you can see there are three on the grass, but four in line). The father then hissed at the other goose standing on the sidewalk, as the little ones went under the fence, and their mother then limboed under it, too. The father stood guard until they were all in the water.
It’s impossible not to go goo-ey over goslings.. really gorgeous Merril 🙂 🙂
Thank you so much, Liz. Seeing them was like a special gift today. 🙂
Oh you’ve painted the scene so well with your words. I often walk along the Charles River which is just a few blocks away. During the right season, there are so many goslings and oh yes, those parents watch you as you walk by on the sidewalk and I swear, if you look at them for too long, never mind approach them, they seem to rise up extra tall and stick out their chests and honk or spit at you! It’s the rising up in indignation that you are near their little ones that really makes me chuckle. But if it gets to their honking and spitting, I move along pretty quickly!
Thank you very much, Lillian. And you have the Make Way for Ducklings statue, too, in Boston. This park is always full of geese–as is most everywhere around here–but I’ve seldom seen little babies like these. It seemed like the goose felt more threatened by the other adult goose than by me.
I like your rhyme scheme and of course the goslings 🙂
Thanks so much, Jade!
You are welcome, Merril.
🙂
I agree. The rhyme is just right.
Thank you!
A goose can be formidable. I forget the name of the form you’re using, but it works well.
Thank you, Glenn. I liked seeing how these geese watched over their babies.
I wasn’t aware I was doing a form, but I’m glad it worked! I will have to see if I can find out what it was. 🙂
This looks like our back yard…they’re everywhere! Loved your words today, Merril!
Thank you, Jill. I know geese leave a mess, but I do enjoy watching them.
I love this Merril. Those geese will attack if threatened ( esp their young) so I find this so sweet and true to life!
Thank you so much, Holly. I think these geese are used to people being around them in the park, but you are right about protecting their babies! It was fun to watch them.
My friend was park walking when she was terrorized by a Mama goose. She really was attacked fairly badly. They have a strong maternal bond like most creatures.
I know they can get quite fierce–and loving.
Yes!
What a lovely family snapshots. Good for the parents to be protective, until its time to journey again.
Thank you very much, Grace. I tend to anthropomorphize, 🙂 but I did like watching the geese parents protecting their babies.
That row of goslings is so cute! This form works quite well for the telling. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe. I loved watching the parents “herding” them.
Is this a form?
It seemed like it…maybe you made one up!
Maybe I did! 🙂
Enjoyed your story in poetry and pictures, Merril 🙂
Thank you very much, Lynn!
A great poem of parenting! I could see it playing out in real time!
Thank you very much, Dwight. I’m glad that came through. It was so much fun to watch them.
What? No Ryan Gosling?
Just being silly….
How lucky for you to catch the whole family! Lovely verse.
Hahahaha. So funny, Dale. It was a special gift to see the whole family like that. The park is always full of geese, but I don’t think I’ve even seen the babies like that before.
😉I have my moments.
Definitely a gift to see those babies.
🙂
This time of year many high school students are about to fly from the nest. I see a connection to your poem.
Thank you. That is so true. I remember my girls doing that.
And my older daughter and her wife just bought a house, so soon they’ll be flying to a new nest.
Poem and photos are so sweet and cute!😀 They both have me smiling!
Aww–thank you so much!
Geese and geese babies are a treat!
They are. I felt rewarded with this lovely surprise during my walk.
It’s probably true that all baby animals are magical 🙂
Yes, I’m sure it must be true. 🙂
🙂
You have captured so much about geese in so few words. 🙂
Thank you, Frank! 🙂
I like the progression in this, and the end coming right around to the title..
Thank you very much, Ken. I actually took another photo of geese in flight that I didn’t include, but I guess it got me thinking that way.
We have a new crop of goslings now by the lake. Mama goose doesn’t have to do much to teach her wee ones to swim.
Thank you, Marian!
More golden syrup than treacle 🙂
Hahaha. Thank you, Derrick! 🙂
Oh, I was so excited when I saw goslings a few weeks ago by a pond near my office! They are so cute and it was nice to see the two adults standing guard over them. About a week later I came upon them again, snapped a few pictures. It didn’t get into one of my photos, but Father Goose (I assume it was Father because the other adult goose seemed more interested in grazing) actually cocked his head at one point as if he were trying to figure out what I was 🙂 Your poem so well describes their behavior.
Thank you very much, Marie. As Jane says, there’s magic in baby animals. 🙂
I like the gift of protection until “fledglings fly away”.
Thank you, Frank!
This was wonderful Merril. Loved the mother pointing the yungins’ into formation. I was charged by an angry Canadian Goose on a golf course one time – and one time was well enough. Vicious!
Thank you very much, Rob!
Sorry to remind you of that traumatic moment. 🙂 I’d like to think we’d all turn fierce to protect our children.
What a delightful poem Merrill 🙂 I love the fierce parents protecting their young 💕
Thank you so much, Christine!
I love the goslings and how sweet they are with their protective parents…
Thank you. Seeing them was a special gift.