The wee hours at meadowbrook pond.

Couldn sleep. Went next door for peace and quiet. U cant see the picture but the cottonwoods are silhouetted against the night sky and their perfume hints of vanilla and cinnamon. I can hear the creek pouring over the weir as restless ducks quack awake the sleepy ones and the occasional wingflap as a spooked bird hops to the other side of the pond. Usually with four quacks. Sometimes in pairs. They are more active than u think at night. A heron is hunting downstream of the bridge. I had to move slowly not to spook it. And four birds splashed down with muffled wingbeats just now. Disgruntled quacks greeted them and now again only the sound of the stream pouring over the weir. But wait. I hear chewing... Somewhere a hidden beaver munches the spring bark of a dogwood or a willow or sweetgale. And perfume barely touches the late night breeze.