The Muscovy Duck

Image of a duck on a dock at night.Balanced on a half-submerged log, she grooms her fine white feathers as if they are a mink coat, as if she resides high in a penthouse apartment. In January and February, after blizzards and hurricanes, she is still there, no other home but the dock in the Hudson River. The only white duck, a Muscovy, among the brown mallards and Khaki Campbells. Tonight she sleeps on the black water as I sit in my warm, lighted apartment with my computers, television, books, full of supper. Me with my clothes, furniture, doorman, therapist, 401(k), worrying how to live in this world.

 

Jeanette Topar’s short stories have appeared in literary journals such as The Greensboro Review, Southwest Review, Meridian, and selected as finalists by Glimmer Train.

Photo Credit: Dominic Casario

17 Responses to “The Muscovy Duck”

  1. Maria Angeles Capellades Sola says:
    February 16, 2020 at 3:22 am

    Great imagery, great message. Makes you think about what really matters in life.

    Reply
  2. nancy ludmerer says:
    October 24, 2019 at 3:01 am

    Love this story!

    Reply
  3. Jane says:
    October 20, 2019 at 11:20 pm

    I have no words – so moving, so precise, so thought-provoking. Thank you!

    Reply
  4. Dylan Martin says:
    September 5, 2019 at 5:29 pm

    I love this. Great imagery with a unique subject matter and powerful message. Short and sweet.

    Reply
  5. Kenny A Chaffin says:
    August 21, 2019 at 10:25 am

    Behind the firewall in my social isolation I type. 🙂
    Well done!

    Reply
  6. Kate says:
    August 15, 2019 at 11:05 pm

    Moving.

    Reply
  7. Alice says:
    August 15, 2019 at 9:45 pm

    Wow! Moving. Packs a big punch for so few words. Thank you.

    Reply
  8. David Derey says:
    August 15, 2019 at 8:35 pm

    Original

    Reply
  9. Tony Press says:
    August 15, 2019 at 4:12 pm

    This is beautiful.

    Reply

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