Migration Bias
Robin roosts in a Kansan backyard.
Bird bath, bird seed -
everybody knows her name.
Robin also roosts among the snow-ridged
peaks of the Olympics range. Taking in
enormity to its little bird brain.
I mean that affectionately.
Tell me brother, robin,
is there a difference to you between
a stream and a storm drain?
Talk to me of wild, suburbia
and free.
Cuck. Tuk.
Cuck. Tuk.
Share with me the weight of wind, the
comfort of tree leaves. Watching a robin,
you’ll see less flight than landing.
I recently wrote some fragments of this poem on a short backpacking trip to the Olympics. I’m always stricken by seeing common birds in the most uncommon of places. It was a pleasant reminder of home. More often, these days, my ears are dominated by the caw of a crow or the seagull’s siren song.
For another bird themed poem, check out this one from last year…
For your viewing pleasure… on our recent trip to Peru we learned the wonders of the oropendola, a marvelous bird of the rainforest. It’s song and it’s dance are a delight. Watch a 30 second clip here.