season's end -
a bucket of empty shells
in the duck blind

winter beaver pond
ducks on the open water
feeding quietly

season's end
the long night of the
decoys

all that remains
of wandering ducks' dreams -
feathers

photo by KGT, hole by Stedman

January
we hunt a hole in the ice -
late season ducks

blood on the ice -
winter winds blow over the
open water beyond

indecision
making hunting plans
the night before

blizzard wind
at the edge of the decoys
ducks appear

New Year's resolve
the cancer patient orders
new hunting gear