Rubber Duckies
By Suzanne Clark
Five rubber duckies going on a picnic.
One little duck floats on his side, alas poor Fred.
The wind blows strong, the cattails are shredded.
The biggest yellow duck calms her nerves, pours tequila.
The river flows toward Kentucky.
*
Rain splatters the travelers; nobody brought an umbrella.
Passing under willows, slender green branches become their umbrella.
Pausing under the branches, the duckies quack about their picnic.
One little duck floats on his side, alas poor Fred.
The biggest rubber duck pours another tequila.
The salad is ready, the lettuce is shredded.
*
A beanie baby snake attacks, the duckies fight back, the snake is shredded.
The snake is spread out like an umbrella.
All the duckies have shots of tequila.
The sun comes out, there’s a ways to go before the picnic.
One little duck floats on his side, alas poor Fred.
All are looking for grass, but not the blue kind from Kentucky.
*
Along the bank a special weed grows, could be from Kentucky.
Pausing for a snack, the weed is shredded.
One little duck floats on his side, alas poor Fred.
Sitting on the bank, an upside down umbrella.
Pushing it in the water, the duckies ride to their picnic.
All cheer their good fortune – toasts with tequila.
Supplies are running low, only a tad of tequila.
*
Horses on the bank running their own derby from Kentucky.
Beanie Babies Blue Grass Band invited the duckies to the picnic.
The direct route was lost when the map was shredded.
Floating down the river in their umbrella.
One little duck floats on his side, alas poor Fred.
Five rubber duckies floating on their sides, it’s not just Fred.
*
Too much sun, too much weed, too many shots of tequila.
Soft sleepy quacking from the bottom of the umbrella.
Five rubber duckies, all the way from Kentucky.
A path on the bank – colored paper scattered and shredded.
Floating towards the bank, at last their picnic.
*
Five yellow rubber duckies all the way from Kentucky.
Take tequila, Fred and an umbrella to their picnic.
Along the way, the sestina is shredded.
© Suzanna Clark 6/2000
Author: Suzanne Clark 