Fledglings

Three baby blackbirds sitting on a rail

not yet dark but not too pale.

One looked west

while two looked east.

Each was waiting for a dead bug feast.

They cheeped and they squawked.

"Momma Feed us." They cried.

 No parents were in sight.

Though they looked far and wide.

One said, "forget this,

I’m not waiting for food.”

So she flapped her wings 

then from the fence she flew!

  

Now two were left with

nary a bite.

wondering each to himself,

“Could Sis have been right?”

One looked at me then back to the sky,

faced into the sun and away he did fly!

So where there once was three

there now remained one

With no bugs in his belly

and not having much fun

Feeling hunger inside 

his siblings had flown

and now he wanted 

a meal of his own.

Waiting for food now seemed so wrong

Up went his wings 

and then he was gone!

The fence now is empty as is the nest

Children grow up. We know this is best.

They try out their wings then off they do go.

But I’ll see mine again when I’m at Lake Ta-hoe.
     Fledglings, by Nellie Howard, 2011

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