between the dawn mist
and sun-driven morning fog
doe and buck listen
eagles bank over the pond for a last look . . .
mallards flock into spinning, clattering fleets . . .
geese conference on every lawn . . .
hawks hover above high-tailed chipmunks . . .
one hummingbird nectars at the last red honeysuckle . . .
. . . time to get ready . . .
. . . time to move on . . .
. . . time to whisk away on the whistling wind . . .
Like the First Day colorful birds burst from hidden places among the branches soar across the water hover to savor and absorb all that they...