Two years ago today the mute swan returned to Rosslyn’s reopened “duck pond” and — for an all too brief interlude — we celebrated. Many of us indulged a moment of optimism that the solitary bird, ill equipped for our harsh winter conditions, might manage to make it to spring.
Let’s rewind just a little further to the arrival of the mute swan. Hopefully these Instagram embeds will load…
On February 11, 2022 the beautiful bird was photographed while the lake was still open. Repeatedly observed along the Essex waterfront the mute swan began to attract attention. S/he was alone. No mate. And challenging temperatures and weather conditions concerned many. Shouldn’t this majestic bird have migrated to fairer climes?
By late February the lake was freezing, but our boathouse bubbler kept the “duck pond” open for all waterfowl seeking open water. Until the Ice Eater failed. And the small area of open water shrank and shrank and finally froze over.
Fortunately several concerned neighbors came to the rescue.
As I mentioned above, once the “duck pond” was reopened, we all breathed a sigh of relief.
And the mute swan appeared to be faring well. Solitary but satisfied.
Unfortunately winter’s severity was relentless and the mute swan was restless. Alternating between the small circle of open water in front of Rosslyn’s boathouse and similarly bubbled open water at the marina, this solitary swan struggled to endure the final trials of winter.
Early one morning the beautiful bird was discovered frozen into the ice at the marina. The swan was still alive, but cold, hungry, and exhausted. A noble effort was made to free the swan.
Sadly the swan did not recover.
The sense of loss was palpable. Collective anguish. A community grieving.
Absent any useful recourse I fell upon poetry to help me sort through the emotions.
As poignant as the loss and the grief was the coming together. The shared compassion and mission. The shared hope. The shared loss and mourning.
And so, despite the grief, the coming together heartened me. It was this hopefulness that salved the sadness. For me, at least.
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