... ..veteran's day ....November 11, 2007   Upon the viscous bayou water, beyond Mr. Trahan's fruit trees, seven ducks glide in V-formation past a floating plastic Sprite bottle.  Like a ship's bow, they cut the water and let it slip quietly behind them.  The ducks show no sign of exertion but, unless there's an amputee in the bunch, I know there are fourteen webbed feet paddling furiously just beneath the inky surface.  With the pier as my grandstand, I review these birds.  In unison, they turn their heads and stare, as only a duck can manage.  I reflexively stiffen and salute. Minutes later, as I watch the troops disappear around the bend, I am unsettled.  There was something about the lead duck--the sneer on his bill, perhaps--that makes me think revolution's in the air. previous..|..current..|..archives..|..4th quarter index..|..next

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