Ducks have secret blue feathers
beneath their wings. They’re
called speculum feathers.

I like to call them mirror
wings or looking feathers.
Birds use them to find

their flock. To find other birds
like them. To fall in love. This
morning, I sat alone on a dock, and

I watched two swimming ducks who were
showing their speculum feathers. Were they lost?
Were they making love? Maybe the answer is

both. Or neither. They ruffled their wings
in unison, and they circled the pond like
they were dancing. Their light bounced

and reflected onto my shadow. I tried to
feed them half-grapes, but they were
too happy to let me be happy with them