Robin Time Again

The symphony is here warming up in the morning. Early arrivals came two weeks ago with the first “Robin Snow. ” Now the whole flock, contagion, gang, flood, passel of them are here. Almost here and gone, because yesterday, hundreds. Today it’s back to the the home town team.

While the snow goes away, two birds at a time now. There’s always a skinny one. And that fat one. They do seem to hang out. The pair of them. I have it on several sources that geese mate for life. How about Robins? It is said they only mate for one breeding season. But it is also said that sometimes when they happen to be in the same vicinity Then they are the same pair in a new summer. Good for another mating season.

The skinny males arrive first, and the fatter females come a tad later. They stalk out their territory and then like a card game being dealt, the yspread out around the whole territory. You want her, well stay here then because I can’t abide your feathers any more. Travelled long enough with you. Go down the street why don’t you? Everyone notices the red, but have you seen those white petticoats? Subtler, maybe, but great for making blue eggs. Then too, you gotta just sit, and let the old man work. I feel very proprietary about them.

Don’t want no cats hanging around. Seems like there’s always been a robin nest near mine. My robins, my twigs and my strings. The home team. My morning symphony.