the love family

This past weekend, when we heard all about Barrie, the K9 officer,

we were also told about this beautiful swan family, who built a nest

on the grounds of our local criminal justice facility. They have been

fondly dubbed "Bonnie and Clyde Love" and their new baby, "Duke".

Did you know most swans mate for life? So romantic.

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The word "swan" is derived from Old English swan, akin to the

German schwan and Dutch zwaan, in turn derived from Indo-

European root swen (to sound, to sing), whence Latin derives sonus

(sound). Young swans are known as cygnets, from the Latin word for

swan, cygnus. An adult male is a cob, from Middle English cobbe

(leader of a group); an adult female is a pen.

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I love swans. To me, they symbolize not only beauty, but serenity

and purity. My auntie sometimes calls me "Swanie", after the Hans

Christian Andersen tale. My friend, Edna St. Vee, wrote a haunting

poem, which I've posted before, about swans. It evokes thoughts of

the struggle between beauty, a sense of purpose and the complexes

of reality.

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I looked in my heart while the wild swans went over.
And what did I see I had not seen before?
Only a question less or a question more;
Nothing to match the light of wild birds flying.
Tiresome heart, forever living and dying,
House without air, I leave you and lock your door.
Wild swans, come over the town, come over
The town again, trailing your legs and crying!

Wild Swans
Edna St. Vincent Millay

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I wish I could take credit for these marvelous photos, but there

were taken by officer Phillip Hetzel.