Beside the frozen lake I stand
And from the bank my eyes are drawn
Across the surface still as glass
The blue of mirrored sky,
As ice does rest upon the swag
The lapwing walks the stony shore
And turns the pebbles one by one
In search of worm and fly.
I hear the call of distant gulls
For there a flock has settled where
The cracks have formed and water seeps
And gentle sun does shine,
While mallards cast their longing eyes
Towards me as I throw some bread
Then coots the swans and geese arrive
To form a grateful line.
And there they wait till I've no more
It breaks my heart to leave them so
Upon the ice they vainly stand
And watch me walk away,
Past the thorn and tree so bare
I cross the grass where shadows fall
So long and dusted by the frost
That lingers through the day.
ANDREW BLAKEMORE
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/beside-the-frozen-lake-i-stand/
