Such a beautiful tribute. I find myself quite angry about the abandonment of this bird and that our community did not address this sooner when a warm weather rescue would have been possible. I moved to St Paul 18 months ago and don't get to Lake Harriet regularly or I would have taken lead on organizing a rescue.
On Dec 17, 2016 5:31 PM, "Spannaus, Susan C." < [email protected]> wrote: > The Holiday Swan > > The swan spent time on the lake it had been spotted this year all the way > back to April and it is now December > People walking the lake would see the swan floating out on the lake in the > company of Mallards, Grebes, and other waterfowl. > The stories were told about the swan, how large and black it was a rare > sighting in this part of the land. > Speculations, discussions, and disputes as to its > roots....indigenous.....no...oh it's from Australia but what would it be > doing here > In this cold part of the world...alone....must be a domestic that > escaped...and the talks went on and on and you could hear people's chatter > walking around the lake.. > The leaves turned and Fall had arrived with a chill in the air with a > black swan content on the lake feeding and mingling with the other waterfowl > that accepted it as one of their own. > Speculations continued and wonders of when the black swan would move on it > was getting chiller by the day and the swan continued to stay > and feed and swim with the ducks. > One day the snow came and the swan continued to stay, eating and swimming > and then it was colder and the swan was colder and the talk went on > from the lake walkers when will it go, maybe it can't fly, maybe it's > sick... but no mind was set on the swan it had to be okay... > Another day passed and there was more snow, had six or eight inches and > ice was on the lake and the swan was looking sad and worn and swam > away from the ducks to sit on the ice as it was cold and not feeling > well...and people looked on and wondered what to do with this elusive black > swan on the lake. It looked so cold, it wasn't eating or swimming, just > sitting on the ice. > People speculated how to get the swan, go out in a kayak, get a boat, get > a group of people together to get it as swans are strong but this one looked > weaker by the day. People continued to plan on how to capture the swan and > the cold days of December continued on with a black swan on the ice. > > Today the enormous, beautiful, elusive black swan gave in to the cold, and > the feathers enclosed in frost, did once last float on the lake and sunk > below > the water line to give up its life to the lake. > > When native American Indians knew they were at the end of their life they > would go lie in a snowbank, it was two-fold as it ended any pain they were > having > and the numbness from the snow would put them into a peaceful rest and > they would die.... > > The Indians learned much from the swan and the respectful way to pass in > peace..... > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
