Poem May 15, 1989 Issue

Swan ride

Shirley Mary Nicholson

The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.

Deuteronomy 33:12

This evening,
gliding along smooth as silk,
pouring through waters
nightfall-busy,
mother mute swan swam,
her fluffy youngster
riding high on feathered shoulders,
tucked up in belonging.

To me
the cygnet's life style
was enviable:
how splendid to be borne along
above troubles, sorrows,
feeling only the pressure of gentleness,
the caressing of wings—
how fortunate these fledglings!

Riverside thoughts
made me long for a swan-back,
a pick-me-up and a take-me-along
in the backwash of waving hopes;
but here Love spoke,
piercing the gulls' wheeling
and the night-bird's call,
that "the beloved of the Lord shall dwell ...
between his shoulders."

Happily I understood:
there are swan rides for us all.

Shirley Mary Nicholson

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