I Watched A Robin

Spring has officially arrived, but I knew we were on the cusp when my beautiful robins arrived. I have always, since childhood, adored the sound of their cheerful songs.

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March 1st I noticed the robins returned to my neighbourhood. They are rather plentiful here, and often perch upon the nearby orchard trees and my fence.

When I moved here to my little home, I noticed how plentiful these birds were, and, I also noticed that my new home was painted in a colour quite similar to the colour of a robin's breast, so because of that, I named my home, The Robin's Nest.

The robins are quite friendly with me here, most likely because they might sense I am quite fond of them, and I will chat with one now and then. One summer, one robin got spooked, and flew into my porch wall. He was understandably distressed and quite stunned as he lay on my outdoor patio couch. As I am someone who believes in the power of positive energy and healing vibes, I decided to sit with him for a period of time and send him my energy and positive thoughts as he sat there and just stared at me.

He appeared to not be terribly injured, just stunned, (with my untrained eye), and he sat calmly looking at me back, though clearly unable to fly away. I didn't get too close so as to frighten him, and, in time, he managed to stand up, all be it. a tad wobbly on my soft couch.

He appeared to be quite alert, and was looking around in addition to watching me, so no broken neck, at least.

I sat with him for some time, and then decided to return inside to give him space allow let him make an attempt to fly away. Not long after that, he did indeed, raise his wings and take flight. He sat for some time on the nearby fence before he finally flew away.

More than once after that a robin would come and perch on my porch railing and look in the window at me. I would like to think it was that little robin that I sat with that day. Maybe it was he, maybe he was thanking me. I'd like to think so, and it very much made me smile.

When I was very young my bedroom window had a lovely cherry tree outside. Not only did I love to enjoy the beautiful pink blooming flowers in the Spring, but I loved listening to the robins that would inevitably perch in that tree between the houses. I think that is where my love of robins started.

I come from a family of bird watchers, as my father, when he was in his youth, had a full backyard aviary behind his home. I wish he was here today so I could ask him more about it, as weirdly, I do not even know what species of birds he actually had in there.

Today, I was reminded of a poem that I wrote a couple of years ago, on a beautifully sunny morning here as I sat writing on my porch and sipping my morning coffee. Today, as I listen to my returning robins I thought it would be appropriate to share it with you.

I Watched A Robin

I watched a robin,

In the early morning hours,

As he fluttered and landed on the top branch of a tree,

Liked he was perched upon a tower.

The branch was bobbling up and down,

Reverberating from his landing weight,

And I noticed as his body bobbed with the branch,

But his head was still perfectly straight.

Then he opened his bright, yellow beak,

And started to sing me a song,

And I sat just listening very intensely,

Enjoying every note he shared, cheerful and strong.

The branch still bobbed and swayed with his weight,

But his head still didn’t bob up and down,

Though he did throw his head back to reach his loudest notes,

And I watched as if…spellbound.

My glorious morning moments on this porch,

With my coffee and writing tools in hand,

As I listen to my beautiful, plentiful birds,

Are a joy as I start my day on this land.

I feel truly blessed in this moment,

As I listen to my chubby robin sing,

For I am in my glory and in heaven here,

And I would not trade this moment in, for anything.

By Lise Parton

*photo by mark olsen mJWmnylsp68 on unsplash