My Ballet Birds

While sitting on the porch this morning

A covey of birds lit near my old oak tree

Close together, they all stayed

In an oval shape, the best I could see.


Wearing their suits of gray and white

I counted a dozen of them in all

Like a ballet dance, they'd fly in unison

They'd circle and then come back to call.


It looked so graceful when they took flight

How do they know when's the right time

To lift their wings to fly upward and circle

Staying close in an oval as they climb?

Vina Carathers

October 23, 2001

Look out!  Again they come and land

In the hay meadow to peck a bit

And if you listen very closely

You will hear their little "twit"


This time they landed in the shade

In the shade of my bluebird tree

But these birds land in the meadow

In the meadows, no danger they see.


It's never tiring to watch the birds

At Calico Meadows, there are many

Most all of them are good entertainers

Come!  Take time to sit and watch with me.