You see me,
floating
serenely in the current of life,
unruffled, calm,
my quack silent.
A stately galleon.
What you can't see, is that
underneath,
I am paddling like mad,
just to stay afloat.
Angela of Letters from Usedom paid me a lovely compliment the other day. She said "You always sound so well-balanced and contented". Thank you, Geli, but that duck and I have a lot in common.
I have read something similar before, but your words do make me smile and many of us are like this duck.
ReplyDeleteThat's the story of my wife. No, I mean, that's the story of my life. No, I was half right, its the story of both.
ReplyDeleteDucks or swans, they all have the ability to glide. Not me!
ReplyDeleteha...yep, def know how that feels...smiles.
ReplyDeleteThe Goose perhaps?
ReplyDeleteThe contrast between what's apparently going on above the water and what's really going on under there does always make me smile when I see a duck, goose, swan. Dog in water even.
Nice ;-)
That is a lovely compliment, and I know what she means. I had to laugh at the image you painted with your words. You do project calm, no matter what is going on underneath. :-)
ReplyDeleteActually, the duck's down feathers probably help keep it afloat. Do you have down feathers?
ReplyDeleteDianne
'Paddling like mad just to stay afloat' rings a bell with me too.
ReplyDeleteKeep paddling - as was said, so wisely 'you can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time...' but yes, you do exude (cyber-wise) an aura of calm.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Friko, there will be many who find themselves in the same situation as you and the duck. Appearances are always deceiving, and most of us are paddling furiously beneath the water, notwithstanding the serenity that announces itself above the water line.
ReplyDeleteSo funny! Because it is so true!! :):)
ReplyDeleteha! this is so true
ReplyDeleteOne thing though, the older and fatter one gets, the less one has to paddle and the easier it is to float!
ReplyDeleteOh, this made me laugh, Friko. "I am paddling like mad,
ReplyDeletejust to stay afloat." Ha! Yep, we can, probably all of us, relate to that. ;)
Wonderful analogy, Friko. Very nice, indeed! Some of us here, Down South, do engage in this frantic, sub-sea paddling, yet have rough seas to contend with, as well.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, learning how to paddle like mad is a good thing for our baby mallards. It makes it so much harder for the gar fish to grab them by the feet, pull them under and have them for dinner!
ReplyDeletePaddle on!
Oh, my, yes! Keep paddling, Friko.
ReplyDeleteThere are days like today when I am paddling as fast as I can too!! Ha!
ReplyDeleteHugs
SueAnn
The duck and I have a lot in common too. Don't we all?
ReplyDeleteThe photo of the duck is gorgeous though!
ain't that the livin' truth. appearances can be so deceiving.
ReplyDeleteWell illustrated. I hear that all the time about myself. I too am the duck.
ReplyDeleteBe as the leaf upon the stream and go with the flow. Well, when you can, at least.
ReplyDeleteYep, you have to keep paddling like mad to keep your head above water :-).
ReplyDeleteI gave up and decided to sink. It's actually pretty nice down here, watching all of those feet working so feverishly above.
ReplyDeleteDear Friko,
ReplyDeleteAs others have commented on this posting, many, many, many of us have a lot in common with that duck!
By the way, did you write the poem. The duck certainly does look like a "stately galleon."
Peace.
I can relate too. Do any of us know any truly serene people?
ReplyDeleteNever content with paddling madly underwater to stay afloat ... not a natural swimmer , I tend to flap about above water , too .
ReplyDeleteThere is much to pay for that poised nonchalance.
ReplyDeleteWhat perfect imagery. I so often feel like that duck, too. ;)
ReplyDeleteI like your goose pic...and I love the poem. Life. So true.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, know that feeling well--paddling like mad just to stay afloat!
ReplyDeleteFriko, that comment and your reply have really made me laugh. I wonder if there exist some species who have all the paddling going on above the watermark, while their deepest selves are calm, serene, and all that jazz.
ReplyDeletexo
You really are wonderful in how you always seem to have a calm demeanor and sensibleness to you. The salt of the earth.
ReplyDeleteHa! I wish to be like the duck, but I fear my flailing shows all too much.
ReplyDeleteI may not be a galleon, perhaps a small leaky yacht?
ReplyDeleteWarm Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
> < } } ( ° >
><}}(°>
It's the illusion that counts!
ReplyDeleteI'm worried. First you hint you may be posting less; then you say your quack is silent.
ReplyDeleteWe understand about the frenzied paddling. But do keep quacking, Friko.
So true of so many of us Friko. Great poem!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a duck like that! What a perfect analogy!
ReplyDeleteYes... the paddling continues!
ReplyDeletevery cute.
ReplyDelete(thanks for the support on the anti-word verification post! AMEN!)