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Swan Song

SWM seeks SWF for lifetime monogamous relationship. Must love nature.

For at least the last four years, the swan pictured below has taken up residence in a pond in our neighborhood. There is something so stately, and yet sad, about him. Knowing that swans mate for life, I have often wondered if something happened to his mate.  I also wonder how he will ever find a new mate when he is the only swan living here.

Of course, like so many others who grew up in the 70's, I read The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White. This may be why I assume that the swan is male. I have no idea, and it could just as easily be a female I suppose, but it wouldn't change that fact that he/she is alone. Although he often can be seen swimming near the Canadian Geese and the ducks that also inhabit the pond, does he feel like the ugly duckling?

With a new road that runs in a more direct path to the highway, there is no reason to drive by the pond these days. Nevertheless, I find myself taking the long way round just for a glimpse of "Swanee". Today, I even pulled over to take some pictures and Swanee came closer to where I was standing on the bank. He seemed to look me over and then continued to feed on the grasses in the pond.

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