Beside the frozen lake I stand <br />And from the bank my eyes are drawn <br />Across the surface still as glass <br />The blue of mirrored sky, <br />As ice does rest upon the swag <br />The lapwing walks the stony shore <br />And turns the pebbles one by one <br />In search of worm and fly. <br /> <br />I hear the call of distant gulls <br />For there a flock has settled where <br />The cracks have formed and water seeps <br />And gentle sun does shine, <br />While mallards cast their longing eyes <br />Towards me as I throw some bread <br />Then coots the swans and geese arrive <br />To form a grateful line. <br /> <br />And there they wait till I've no more <br />It breaks my heart to leave them so <br />Upon the ice they vainly stand <br />And watch me walk away, <br />Past the thorn and tree so bare <br />I cross the grass where shadows fall <br />So long and dusted by the frost <br />That lingers through the day.<br /><br />ANDREW BLAKEMORE<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/beside-the-frozen-lake-i-stand/
