The North End of the Lake Freezes Last
The north end of the lake freezes last.
This is what the birds know.
They wait.
Gulls, and ducks, and swans.
The Canada Geese are miles to the south,
Practically in another country.
These are the stubborn ones.
Waiting on a shore that each evening inches north.
A time lapse movie would capture what I mean.
One frame per day.
Like a baker deftly icing a dark cake in broad strokes.
The birds marking its perimeter,
Leading it into the water.
Saying goodbye to swimming.
Alex Hill
January 2002