A Day in the Swamp

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the experience of reading from my novel-in-progress at a meeting of the Willamette Writers. As is my wont, the post was pretty much me me me, except for mention of a talented young lady, Anisha Datta, who read from her own award-winning essay that evening.

Anisha's mother, Chitra, wrote to me about that post and has graciously agreed to allow me to share Anisha's amazing essay. It is a great honor and privilege that I now present "A Day in the Swamp," First Place Winner for Student Writing, Grades 1-5 in the 2006 Kay Snow Writing Awards.

A day in the swamp By Anisha It’s dawn in the local swamp. Small streaks of yellow light filter in through the rich green leaves of the tall cypress trees. Swif! A female tree Swallow swoops down and grabs a sleeping goby out of the clear waters. Swallowing the unconscious fish, she returns back to her nest, soaring among the branches of the cypress trees, smoothly and silently. Her young chirp and chatter as she nears the nest. With strong stomach muscles, she regurgitates her food into the chick’s beaks. They devour the digested fish that their mom brought home. But as mom leaves for her next victim, a red-tailed hawk sees the juvenile swallow and, with keen eyesight, picks out a good plump one, darts forward and with sharp talons, seizes the chick and , perching on the branch tears open the carcass and picks out the dull pink flesh and swallows it up. Then, with big, broad wings, glides over to his nest and offers his chicks a good-sized meal. PLOP! A male bullfrog dives head first into the crystal clear water. He senses danger. A quiet, tricky Sun bittern wades noiselessly through the cool waters of the tropical swamp. She senses the frog and SNAP! The frog isn’t quick enough and he becomes the bird’s first meal. Not all is victory for the Sun bittern. A short while later, a fenice Alligator hides beneath the bright green duckweed, and with a sharp aim, bites the Sun bittern legs. But this time, the bird gets away and the huge reptile is forced to leave – hungry. Yet, as the starving animal swims along, a brown fat nutria takes a drink on the swamps edge. With all his strength, the alligator thrusts up, throws himself on the muddy river bank, takes the small, furry mammal into the cool water and swallows him up. A daddy-long leg waits in vain for a victim to fall into his sticky trap. A swarm of mosquitoes nestle out of some trees, buzzing and swarming like a neutron, and get caught. They struggle to get free, but in the end they are a mid-day snack. It is noon now. The swamp will go to sleep for a while. The hawks, songbirds and swallows will sleep in the shade of the giant old cypress trees. The herons will sleep under the grasses and reeds, where they know they will be safe. The nutrias, river otters and beavers will sleep in their cool, underground burrows. The snakes and alligators will take a nap in the tranquil water, only nostrils above water. It is now evening in the wetland. Part of it comes to life again. The golden sun sets down on the clear horizon. The yellow light filters in through the rich, green leaves of the canopy and land in the calm waters of the swamp below. A Great horned owl spreads its wings on the darkening evening sky. The little Fireflies flitter and fly. A little Field mouse scurries about for seeds and leftovers. The great horned owl catches sight of the little creature, and SNAP!!! The Field mouse is dinner. A Lizard scrambles hastily out of its shady rock, where it hid from the hot afternoon sun. It takes a dip in the cool waters of the marsh. A cottonmouth senses dinner from around the corner. With perfect aim, the venomous snake strikes, poisoning its victim and swallowing him whole. Soon, the moon, colored like cheddar cheese, leaves the little wet world and the swamp is ready to repeat the cycle all over again. THE END