Lame Duck based on true events My heart sinks at the sight of a pure white, domestic duck feebly flapping her bloodied wings by the side of the highway. I tap my brakes as we come closer, my mind racing— Do I stop? Where would I take her? Who tends to lame ducks? How badly is she hurt? My van pulls abreast of her, and I crane my neck as we glide past clucking my tongue as the duck transforms into a pure white grocery sack, red letters telling me “Thanks for Shopping.”
Last week, I saw this post on Threads about a women who pulled over to help a creature in the middle of the road only to discover it was actually a blueberry bagel. I sympathized, for obvious reason.
You can find “Lame Duck” and other poems like it in Some Days Are Sandstone (also available on Amazon).
Abby, I love this! We spend so much time worrying about things that don't even exist—watching our minds turn grocery sacks into wounded ducks.
it happens! that's the true meaning of no regrets.