A Remembered Moment

The hen,

and behind it

a line of waddling ducklings –

khaki campbells –

which it had step-mothered 

*

one duckling

which had strayed behind

rushing to catch up

flapping tiny wings

cheeping its panic 

*

above it

a hoodie crow

on  the tree top,

black body, grey head,

launching  itself,

clumsy, ponderous 

*

and to complete the scene

me watching  it all

through the kitchen window

plate in one hand

dish cloth in the other,

helpless.