Among the cattails

Poised silently among the cattails is Reed.  The guardian of ponds and marshes, he oversees the ducks, geese and red-winged blackbirds. As  dragonflies flit about teasing the frogs, he stands sentry over the young life in the pond. When the eggs hatch, Reed keeps a watchful eye.  "Shhh,"  he whispers, "the ducklings are sleeping."