He has not learned the lesson of life who does not every day surmount a fear. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet and philosopher
A healthy respect for a goose
In the open and walking around loose
Is a wise path, it would seem
For they can be mean
Especially when it’s one versus deuce!
Note: This is another Limerick. I saw these birdies outside a shopping mall recently. Quite defensive over their territory (might there have been a nest nearby?), they’re BIG creatures (almost waist-high!) and can be intimidating with their hisses, open mouths, and bold approaches. Didn’t Shakespeare write, ‘Discretion is the better part of valor’?!
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
Geese can be mean, there’s no question about that. Even the domestics deserve caution. We’ve got some down by a local pond, and when they put their head down and head in the your direction, it’s time for a retreat. I’ve never noticed any seasonal difference with them. They’re mean all the time!
Wise words, Linda. Many years ago when our house got broken into, I was told (tongue-in-cheek, I thought, but in actuality, fairly serious) that I needed to get a few “guard geese” to protect the premises. In retrospect, maybe I should have!
My grandmother used guinea fowl. They apparently have quite a reputation as guard birds, too.
Seriously? Well, they’re certainly big enough to cause interlopers to have second thoughts!
Their greatest virtue is their voice. They are loud, and will set up a fuss as soon as they sense someone in the area!
Nice to learn, Linda — thank you!
Debbie, what a CLEVER limerick! And I agree with you about geese, they are so very aggressive. I used to live by a lake in Orlando, Florida that was a haven of geese. They were so aggressive that they would literally run into the street and attack passing cars. I kid you not! They would attempt to bite the tires on the cars driving around the lake. I don’t normally dislike any creature, however, geese are the exception.
LOVE the quote you shared at the top of the post!
Have a super week, my friend!
Attacking cars?? Wow, those were some seriously mean dudes!! Ron, these geese were hanging around the outside of the shopping mall. Can you imagine the droppings they left behind? Disgusting! They came right up to me as I was going inside and when I left, I followed one of those big security guards out, hoping he’d protect me from them. As it turned out, he hopped into his car and left me standing there with them. Fortunately, they didn’t decide to turn on me! xx
Good advice. I got nipped on the butt once. Never wanted to repeat that experience.
Mercy!! They really are big, aren’t they? These acted as if they thought I might have food or something and when I told them I didn’t, they started opening their mouths. I couldn’t get inside fast enough, ha!
I can see them chasing you now. 😀
I probably shouldn’t have paused to speak to them. It’s just that their bright eyes looked sort of friendly and interested. Not much foot traffic on that side of the building, though, so I’d have been on my own if they’d opted to attack. Eek!!
You coulda handled them.
I wouldn’t have even tried, not without my trust bat net!
Ha haha.
Haha, great limerick! I don’t think I’ve ever been up close to a goose, though my house is beneath their migration path, so twice a year we get massive flocks of them flying overhead for a couple of days – what a noise they make!
I’ve heard their hollering, too, FF, and it’s amazingly loud! I’m glad Dallas wasn’t with me on this shopping trip because those birdies were WAY bigger than he is — and I can imagine their ire if he’d innocently tried to herd them into a corner!
Been chased by many. Best not to make eye contact.
Good point — hard to keep an eye on them, though, without letting them see you doing it!