They say that when you find a wild animal 
Wounded or abandoned
Leave it be 
But I don't have the heart to walk away
And have raised or treated a 3 legged kitten, bunnies, doves 
And 3 chubby Robins

It was the summer before last
When the kids all ran in at once
"Nana, Nana, come look, come look!"
And out on the drive
Under the boiling sun
Were 3 small Robins
One panting, two haft gone

For 3 weeks I answered the cry of my chicks
Feeding them berries, worms and water with a syringe
They grew strong and healthy 
Breasts growing red
It was time to let them sail on the wind

I placed the cage on the patio and opened the door
For a few days they lingered
Taking time to learn and explore
The biggest one stayed longest and came to my call

I'd take the baby outside to play
Let out a whistle and down Robin would fly
To perch on my shoulder for as long as I liked
Robin would chase baby, baby'd chase him
Round and round and around again

Until one day a group of Robins flew by
And my last fledgling took flight
To whirl and twirl with the rest of its kind

Now there's a nest on the window sill 
Where a pair of Robins lay eggs every spring
And it makes me think of my little chicks
And maybe, just maybe, that's one of their nests.  

 

 

 

by Amanda Burns

 

© Amanda Saylor nee Burns. All rights reserved