the avian family life

by Daria P.

i spent three nights observing two mallards

in the puddle near my parents’ house

i watched them swimming, drinking meltwater, eating off the ground,

quietly quacking sweet nothings to each other

a ritual, the japanese pastime: savoring a slice of life

on the fourth sunset, as my hands were freezing,

i saw a lonely drake walking around the puddle

there was a subtle voice crack in its song

the start of a hero’s journey

i hope that mine is over

and we'll spend our days

in the beautiful avian mundanity

that’s worth writing it a poem

Daria P. (she/they) is a poet and science fiction writer. Their poems can be found in Tap into Poetry, Occulum, and BOMBFIRE. Daria’s works are inspired by the mundanity and characterized by the minimalist style, the detached approach to the subject, simple but effective metaphors, and a vague feeling of nostalgia.