Morning crickets

Sitting in my writing chair this morning it seemed the crickets would be asleep by now.  I think of them singing at night.  They seem to think this morning needs accompaniment.  Of course maybe they do this most mornings and I simply haven*t noticed.  One of the many things I didn*t notice before.  I*ve heard people comment on how loud the cicadas were this year.  I wonder if we only think they*re louder because somehow other years we weren*t paying attention.  Maybe crickets always sing on August summer mornings, but I only listen to them, really, at night, as I lie in bed, windows open..  There*s usually more to do during the day than listen to crickets, or grasshoppers.  Cicadas, of course, demand attention.

Full morning light and the crickets

Still sing.

I thought they only sang

In the dark,

When no one could see,

In private

To the stars.

Seven lines into this,

They stop.

Really

At 8:21 AM,

They stop

Period.

They must have sensed me

Listening.

Then 8:22 AM,

They start

Again.

They may as well

Because

I won*t stop listening.

Full light and they still sing

No matter who can see

No matter who is awake

No matter that the stars

Have completely disappeared

And the sun is already

In full morning shine.