Parable of the Wooden Duck

The Parable of the Wooden Duck.

Teetering on the edge
Of the whirlpool
They are playing a game
Three year old children  testing the adults
"Look how close to the edge
We can play!"

I too am on that edge
Not by choice,
A wooden duck
With wheels, whose
String is tied loosely
Around a fat wrist.

The children call to one another
High pitched cries of excitement
Joy in rebellion,
Loud,
To carry over the deafening waters,

"Look how close I am!
"See me hop on one foot
"I'm not scared
"You can't make me

They dance,
Sure that they can not fall,
They
have this safety line
Attached to a
Reliable old wooden duck

And I
Wonder when
All of us will
Fall into the punishing waters
Because I know
That I am a duck on wheels
With no traction
Or power to
Pull us to safety

Nor can I quack caution
Over their shrill
Voices
Or the roar of water
Crashing on rock
I am made of wood, for Gods sake!

Reason
Has no place here,
Only
A dance
On the edge of destruction
And a wooden duck,
Wishing
That the god damned string
Would break