There was a day each year
when baby ducks were led
from the nest behind the school
through crowds of teachers, students, praise
Waddling over smooth, linoleum floors
through the lobby where the crowd
beheld the sacred, duckling footsteps to the door
They would leave the nest
smooth, round tables
long days of numbers and words
for dreams of water songs and wings
made real
© Angela Bigler 2013