Slow Smoke/To a Wild Goose over Decoys

Slow Smoke
by Lew Sarett
To a Wild Goose over Decoys
4657988Slow Smoke — To a Wild Goose over DecoysLew Sarett

TIMBER-LINE

Glacier National Park
Kintla Mountains
Kootenai Valley
Mount Cleveland
Belly River Ranger
Station,
Montana

TO A WILD GOOSE OVER DECOYS
O lonely trumpeter, coasting down the sky,
Like a winter leaf blown from the bur-oak tree
By whipping winds, and flapping silverly
Against the sun,—I know your lonely cry.

I know the worn wild heart that bends your flight
And circles you above this beckoning lake,
Eager of neck, to find the honking drake
Who speaks of reedy refuge for the night.

I know the sudden rapture that you fling
In answer to our friendly gander's call—
Halloo! Beware decoys!—or you will fall
With a silver bullet whistling in your wing!

Beat on your weary flight across the blue!
Beware, O traveller, of our gabbling geese!
Beware this weedy counterfeit of peace!—
Oh, I was once a passing bird like you.