A Mother Goose story for Real Toads

Photo by Jenn Jilks

mother goose, so graceful,

reflected in the pond

with her remaining child reflected, too.

I wonder if she wonders

what happened to the others,

those eggs on which she sat

until they all had hatched,

the goslings that she fed

and taught

and caught 

when they'd stray
too far away 

from her watchful eye.

did she kiss them?

does she miss them?

does she even know

that they are gone?

or does mother goose’s instinct

care as much for one, as for a brood?

and,  if I could ask her,

would she hate that I had asked her?

would she think me too too terrible and rude?

Kay Davies,  June 16, 2013

With warmest thanks to my lovely blogging friend Jenn Jilks at Cottage Country Reflections, for the use of several of her wildlife photos, as well as a domestic photo of her four cats, for the Sunday mini-challenge at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads.

Jenn is a warmhearted person who loves birds, animals, children, old people, the environment and her family, including a devoted husband who accompanies her on meandering drives through the countryside, stopping whenever she sees a photo opportunity, an injured animal, or a slow-moving turtle trying to make its way across the road.

Posted for my challenge, using Jenn’s photos, at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads. (One of Jenn’s photos is of a teeny-tiny toad clinging to a fingertip. Amazing.)

Thanks also to Kerry at Real Toads, who patiently puts up with my confused approach to post-posting.