Harbinger, Harbinger

little robin red-breast
tripping o’er the lawn
contemplating spring
as winter gapes its yawn

pulling up a worm
nipping at its nose
writhing and a wiggling
though it has no toes

your brothers and sisters
somehow hear his plaints
come flocking in to see
looking mighty quaint

what do you do
but gulp the length of him down
while the other fledglings
suffer with a frown

where might they go
to feast as you have done
where are its brothers
crawling in the sun

starlings have flown in
on peak of roof and ground
seeking their cravings
above the fence and down

sunshine’s in chorus
proclaiming spring is on its way
even though the chill
still grips the whole of day


©February 14, 2002