The Swan Wrote These Lines
https://youtu.be/IEaZy7POiRY
Photo by Michael Lake, Photographer. Not the poem I wanted to write about this swan. But a poem inspired by this picture all the same.
Nothing was leftMy inspiration had goneI went to the lake and looked for the swan When the ink had run dry The swan came to meMy page was his lake He became poetry My line’s empty spaces Now a graceful white birdHe filled up these places With letters and words As each verse was completedHe swam on to the next He carried the rhythm And continued the text When sentences were stubborn Each one kicking and screamingHe calmed each line down Until each one had new meaning When one line lacked rhythmAnd the next line didn’t rhymeHe paused to reflectAnd gave me his time When the ink clottedAnd the lake became placid He ruffled his feathers And finished each passage When too many wordsDid not come togetherHe held out his wingsAnd offered a feather I stood by the lakeAnd read each line outThe swan wrote these linesOf that there’s no doubt He gave me this poemHe helped me todayHe gave me these wordsAnd then swam away