…Along About September

In the pre-dawn glaze
of early sky
brilliant from edge to edge
a purple hew emerges
resplendent from above,
and like a shroud
it creeps along the shore
as hunters watch in adorning garb
their stiff necks craning
through the gloom.

Not so long ago
plans were made over beers
and smoky kitchen haze
of ducks and bag limits
and secret spots
an excitement taking hold,
cleaning guns
buying supplies and such
now here we are

cowering silently in the mist
wishing this seeping cold
would disappear soon
oh listen
from far away comes
a calling
vibrations on the wind,
another hunter group
urges forth with man-made calls
and yes it’s real, coming
this way…

across the sky they swarm
in swimming teams
rushing forward in eager sweeps
wings rapid-fluttering
pintails and teal and canvasback,
doesn’t matter what the breed

they’re crowding quickly as
a runaway storm
and heading right for me…

© Richard L. Provencher