The Swallows Are Back

The swallows are back for the summer

at Silver creek pond. Nova and I leave early

for our walk. I want to get there before

the world wakes up.

On the way we encounter Mama Mallard

with 8 little ducklings swimming behind her

in the creek. We see a killdeer and a willet

by the shore pecking for food. We reach our

destination. A bench by the pond near the

building where hundreds of swallows have

built mud nests under the eves.They are

darting about in the sky zigging and zagging

every which way snatching bugs. It is

amazing they don't run into each other.

I am unsettled. My brain is going in many

directions. I force myself to slow down, to

breath deep, to open up all my sense doors,

to drop into my heart.

Swallows snag their bugs and return to their

nests. Then they do it again and again. The

swallow songs blend with all the other bird songs,

robins, western meadowlarks, red wing

black birds and a yellowthroat warbler.

I become lost in this early morning

extravagance. Nova lays down and rests

beside the bench.

Some of the swallows perform these

magnificent dives at the pond only to touch

the water with their beaks to grab a bug

leaving beautiful concentric circles flowing

out in waves of energy.

After a while when my heart is soft, and my

mind is still we head home.

bd burton, 5/14/25