Sep6

‘wild ducks and tomorrow both come without calling.’ -russian proverb

Posted on by
Standard

-before-

skies dark and murky

tornado warning screaming

strong winds blow the trees

 

-after-

sun returns, wind stops

 clouds dot skies of powder blue

tornado moves course

—

 the ducks, one not-duck

unruffled play near river

with tall friend, heron.

 

—

‘more rain, more rest; more water will suit the ducks best.’
*Historically, the saying was used by farmers and outdoor laborers who were forced to pause their work and rest when a heavy downpour hit. While the rain halted human labor, it provided perfect, thriving conditions for water-loving ducks.
(and sometimes a heron too)

 

 

 

 

—

huron river, ann arbor, michigan, usa – late summer 2026

Discover more from I didn't have my glasses on....

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

25 responses »

  7. Having taken an introductory Russian class in summer school between 10th grade and 11th grade, I wondered what the Russian original of “wild ducks and tomorrow both come without calling” is. I asked AI, and to my surprise it said: “The phrase ‘wild ducks and tomorrow both come without calling’ is widely misattributed as a Russian proverb, but it has no native historical equivalent in the Russian language.” So I followed up and asked where the saying first came from. Here’s the reply:

    Because it is an internet-era misattribution, there is no single named historical author who first coined the phrase. Instead, its viral lifecycle traces back to digital collections compiled in the early 2000s. The earliest documented instances of the quote appear on internet forums, tabletop gaming groups, and digitized proverb aggregate sites around 2004. It was included in a massive list of global proverbs compiled into PDFs and online quote repositories (such as early versions of Scribd databases). An editor or compiler mistakenly labeled it as “[Russian]”. Once automated quote websites scraped these lists, the phrase was hardcoded as a “Traditional Russian Proverb” across thousands of platforms. The quote itself was likely written in English by a modern western writer or blogger trying to capture an “old-world” poetic sentiment about nature and the future.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  12. I like that last saying. I grew up in NE England where, ‘nice weather for a duck’ was used to describe anything beyond light rain. Whatever the weather brings, after the year we’ve all had so far, let’s just hope it’s kind!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  13. We had a huge “100 year” storm on Wednesday in Toronto and boy was it a scary one. But so interesting to see the calm that follows – as if nothing had happened. Nature is amazingly resilient.

    Like

    Reply ↓

Leave a comment