The word Merganser written on the cover of this book is in the
handwriting of my partner who died two weeks before we were to be
married; it was at the head of the last letter she wrote me: " Dear
Merganser," which was what she liked to call me. When her aunt Judy
commissioned this book, I blew up the word Merganser 400% and used it
as the title for this collection of poems. It is my memorial to Lee
Bailey Norris, my companion in so many adventures. There are poignant
verses in the book, and many drawings of the birds we saw together.
But there are more vibrant verses than sad because we were happy, and
that's what the book records.
I have received many letters over the years about Merganser, but one,
which came from a woman, stands out: "This is the finest compliment I
have ever read, paid to a woman by a man."
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