the purpose of ducks

is there purpose

in life.

a reason to be?

do ducks

think that, or do they

just go about

the day

doing what ducks

do.

flying, swimming,

eating,

making more ducks.

doing what they can

to avoid

the rotisserie. 

so unlike you and

me.

we need the award,

the prize,

the pat on the back

we want

to be liked and noticed,

to be recognized.

we want the cookie and

the gold star,

we want to leave

a legacy,

have a good obituary,

an epilogue 

of sorts,

a eulogy to be proud

of.

so unlike ducks,

we are.