Carter, Melanie

Reading, Nicholas

Thomas, Brea

English

Digital Commons @ Butler University

Parable of the DucksOne stands at the edge if the canal,just where the water and grass meet,shakes her brown feathers from her neck to the tip of her tailas she waits.Standing at the top of the slope (just before the ground heads downangled toward the water) is a green duck, a beautiful deep green.He twists his neck backwards and dives his beak into a nibblingfocused on an itch that doesn't subside for two minutes.She can't see him, but she knows he is up there; she won'tgo into the water without him. He knowsshe is waiting, and although his itch has been relievedhe discovers bread crumbs in the grass. He pecks at the leftoverswith a casual nonchalance, unhurried and indifferent.Other ducks are swimming already; brown ducks white ducks greenducks black ducks gray ducks, headed in rows of clumps organized by color-She still doesn't go in, and I want to shout at her,tell her not to wait for him ... but she wouldn't listen if I did. Even thoughhe's a no good duck and she knows it too;even though she wants to swim with all the ducks-she complacently sits and waits as he fills his belly on crumbshe doesn't really want and doesn't want to share and she still waits.-Melanie CarterSelma, AlabamaAll else failingThey picked him upand quietly spread him outover the cityin red white blue poorJimmy Lee Jacksonwith your brains blown outyou will be rememberedby this hole in my stomachI'm digesting thisageless hateAnd fighting the ghosts who hangthe confederate flagover those southerner's eyes.Even the black folks.I thinkThat at leastMy poems could always flyIn paper airplanes.The precise creases forming a bodyAround the poem,Serving as the vehicleWhich will carry my poems to the world.Could be worse for a young poet,At least.-Nicholas Reading-Brea Thomas

Parable of the Ducks / Selma, Alabama / All else failing

https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4144&amp;context=manuscripts

Parable of the Ducks / Selma, Alabama / All else failing

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