Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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Two Very Sexy Geese. (Accompanied by a Voyeur Male Mallard with a Human.) I have viewed this afternoon on my little farm pond, A pair of Canada Geese swimming quietly together. As I watched (1500 Hours), the two began Dipping heads and imbibing in unison. The mirrored movements became ever more rapid, When suddenly the male gently slid over the back of the female, Holding her head under water as he mated. Just as quickly, he slid off but was still hooked With his intromittent organ. They swam awkwardly in parallel until he became unattached. Then as if they were two human lovers, lighting up, They, in unison, began (1515 Hours) fierce self preening manipulations. Bills dug into plumage, over and over again, Followed together by more head dipping, Wing flapping, and bathing--full body. At this moment (1525 Hours) a lone male Mallard swam from shore Then suddenly plunged under water, surfacing twenty feet out, Next to the pai (Mallards are dabblers, not usually divers--most interesting behaviour.) It started to preen and dip, mimicking the 'dance' nearby. Astoundingly this went on for several minutes, Then just as rapidly, the duck turned and swam to shore, Continuing, in its seeming frenzy, to preen on ground. The goose pair continued to mimic each other with diminishing movements. The Mallard swam back out to mingle with the two, Seeming to empathetically be 'joyful' in what had just occurred. As things calmed down, I was again overwhelmed That I had witnessed another creature, so very accurately, Going through the same passions and behaviour As if I had just viewed a sex film or had remembered My own sexual behaviour with a mate of my own species! Then, as if the phone had rung, drawing us back into the 'real' world, The female goose began to softly cackel several times Announcing that it was over and business awaits. The two arose, splashingly, off the water, rose up and headed west To the field next door, cackling exuberantly as they landed in the 'green graze' Now ready, with contrasting behaviour, to pluck many blades of grass! (It is noteworthy that the male Mallard through this whole episode was totally alone--no female in sight. An hour later his female returned--from foraging?-- and immediately the male became active around her-- swimming, preening and devoting attention to her!) Frank Maurer 21 April 2024 1725 Hours.