Swan Song

Near a beach house on the ocean in Old Lyme, Connecticut, there is also a pond where a family of swans lives.

Sometimes they hide from humans and are no where to be found. No matter how much we try to find them, they remain elusive. The only thing we can see are the deep pink beach roses peeking out from green bushes, low to the ground.

White seagulls fly gracefully above in the sky, making mournful screeching sounds. They move their wings back and fourth and seem to dart in and out of the fluffy white clouds.

Then, faster than one can blink an eye, the swans return. Looking out of the screened windows of the beach house porch,  we can see the swan family glide slowly across the pond, past the seaweeds, and straw-like grass.
 

Some days, the swan family remains close to the house. Other days, the family ventures out to an island in the middle of the water behind the house.

The female primps herself, often stretching her long neck and tucks it almost under her wing. The male looks her way and glides toward her.

 Even from a distance, one can see his long, perfectly smooth neck. Like all swans, he exudes grace.

 In the morning, very early, as humans begin to open their sleepy eyes, the swan family is already gliding across the pond. A little one remains on land, ignoring the rest of his family who move slowly across the water.

The sight is a splendorous way to start the day. As the rest of the world awakens, the swans, once again, disappear from sight.

In the evening, as nighttime falls, the sky turns into melted gold, apricot, and pink. All mixed together, the palette is more beautiful than a painting.

The swans are gone again. No flash of white can be seen past the tall weeds. Like humans, they have retired for the night.

HAVE YOU SEEN SWANS CLOSE-UP? DO YOU THINK THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL?