A flock of fat red robins
fly
not up to the sky
they fly
to the soaring sycamore tree
that flanks the field
across the street.
Lined up like overfed soldiers
birds bounce
feathers flounce
a branch dance
then they swoop willy nilly
down and around
into the seasonal creek
that puddles up after recent rain.
Sparrows sashay in to sip
then dart away
but the robins stay
and play.
Splash dunk drink.
Repeat.
I think
spring comes soon.
—Susan Taylor Brown
See the full Poetry Friday roundup via Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference.
Lovely! I, for one, can not wait till spring! Counting the days!
I am counting the days too!
So much happy movement in your poem — you really create the feeling that spring is coming! Did you take the photo of the alert-looking fellow at the top?
Thank you, Tabatha, for the kind support and yes, that is one of my photographs.
I love the “branch dance” and the swooping “willy nilly!” I’m not sure I can start counting the days to spring — Winter has an icy grip on the number line right now!
Thank you, Mary Lee, for stopping to visit and the kind words. Sorry it took so long for me to get back to reply. Life is going very fast right now.
I love the idea that these robins are not flying up to the sky, but up to a sycamore tree in soldierly review just for you. Nice to see you here.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Doraine and I apologize for the delay in a reply. New house woes has me running in circles. I appreciate the kind words.
Hi, Susan. Glad to have you back at Poetry Friday. It’s been a gray winter here — I’m looking forward to spring. We have robins that congregate on our pear trees in just the way you describe. It’s glorious to see them “lined up like overfed soldiers” with those flashes of red.
Thanks Laura. I still seem to be hit and miss but I am trying. With the upcoming move and house renovations I need poetry to help ground me.
Wonderful blog post. This is absolute magic from you! I have never seen a more wonderful post than this one. You’ve really made my day today with this. I hope you keep this up!