<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">The Swan</div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> </p><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Across the wide waters</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> something comes</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> floating--a slim</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> and delicate</div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> </p><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">ship, filled</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> with white flowers--</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> and it moves</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> on its miraculous muscles</div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> </p><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">as though time didn’t exist,</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> as though bringing such gifts</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> to the dry shore</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> was a happiness</div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> </p><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">almost beyond bearing.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> And now it turns its dark eyes,</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> it rearranges</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> the clouds of its wings,</div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> </p><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">it trails</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> and elaborate webbed foot,</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> the color of charcoal.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> Soon it will be here.</div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> </p><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">Oh, what shall I do</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> when that poppy-colored beak</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> rests in my hand?</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> Said Mrs. Blake of the poet:</div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> </p><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">I miss my husband’s company--</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> he is so often</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> in paradise.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> Of course! the path to heaven</div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> </p><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">doesn’t lie down in flat miles.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> It’s in the imagination</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> with which you perceive</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> this world,</div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> </p><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class="">and the gestures</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> with which you honor it.</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> Oh, what will I do, what will I say, when those</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> white wings</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> touch the shore?</div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> </p><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""> - Mary Oliver</div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><img apple-inline="yes" id="6EE30A65-6465-416B-83EE-55DD47B00884" src="cid:126C4EB1-87C6-451E-B245-AFD30EA9706E" class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><br class=""></div></body></html>