Thursday, October 2, 2008

17. THE GREAT SWAN OF GANTISI LAKE

THE GREAT SWAN OF GANTISI LAKE
There it is again - and I know I've seen it before.
Like a trellis covered with roses, or anything beautiful
in that way, the great swan seems floating upon glass
or some water divine put in place by the Gods.
For twenty years now it's been lodged in my memory -
all those days back when : smoking by the trees, waltzing
on skates in some sickly freezing storm, watching kids
illuminate each other by firelight and campsite.
It never mattered once what occurred. That great swan,
so aloof, remained fixed on its space like a candle at a
death or music at a living room funeral of old. People
milling about, standing firm, standing fixed, provided such
a contrast to a sight such as this. That great swan would
sometimes nod. Like it knew exactly what I was thinking.

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