Berkshire Landscape

This is the month of wild ducks' rising, flocking
Patterned upon the sky, taut-necked, imperative;
Wings out of marshes, echelons from the water,
Gone with the low, lorn call that wild ducks give.

I have forgotten the trees hung now with coral,
Coin-gold and buff beside our mountain lake,
Fire on the hills, the blue-washed distances,
And all the pageantry wild ducks forsake.

Mad wild ducks that leave us wingless, voiceless,
When spring takes flight and on a sudden goes
Beyond an autumn day that cherishes only
The half-unwieldy winging of the crows.

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