Silver Swans

The Wild Swans at Coole
The trees are in their autumn beauty,
The woodland paths are dry,
Under the October twilight the water
Mirrors a still sky;
Upon the brimming water among the stones
Are nine-and-fifty swans.

The nineteenth autumn has come upon me
Since I first made my count;
I saw, before I had well finished,
All suddenly mount
And scatter wheeling in great broken rings
Upon their clamorous wings.

I have looked upon those brilliant creatures,
And now my heart is sore.
All's changed since I, hearing at twilight,
The first time on this shore,
The bell-beat of their wings above my head,
Trod with a lighter tread.
 
Unwearied still, lover by lover,
They paddle in the cold
Companionable streams or climb the air;
Their hearts have not grown old;
Passion or conquest, wander where they will,
Attend upon them still.

But now they drift on the still water,
Mysterious, beautiful;
Among what rushes will they build,
By what lake's edge or pool
Delight men's eyes when I awake some day
To find they have flown away?
WB Yeats



It's not quite October and there are only two swans and these ones will be staying but use your imagination! We have several sea going swans here - this pair seemed to have had no cygnets this year but their trio from last years are now independent and out and about. There's also another couple with four cygnets who are doing well. Familar friends. These two are enjoying something in the fresh water which is gushing off the muntain after last night's torrential rain. Mad sunshine and showers today but very dramatic skies.

I'm turning my comments off until the weekend for I keep on getting distracted! Catch up then.