a duck loses. someone else wins. and decides the wing wasn’t worth the effort. a ten year old boy daydreaming near the edge of a small lake spots the splash of prideful indigo. he carries the torn wing up the hill to his home and offers it, with accomplishment, to his mom. his mother finds the imperfect beauty arresting. and she quickly sets about photographing the wing. later that day she posts it on her blog for others to see…(and now, dear reader, you finish the rest of the story)

damaged but intact mallard wing

turtle lake, saint paul, minnesota