Blue jays

It wasn*t until this year that I realized the robins fly south in August.  Maybe this makes the blue jays more noticeable in September.  I don*t know.  Their numbers have increased since the West Nile virus hasdiminished.  There*s something about their call, their color, and now greater numbers: they call attention to themselves.  Can*t miss the blue jay.  I am grateful for blue jays.

The trees have begun

To turn.

I am grateful for blue jays,

Their comeback in numbers,

The hoarse voice chorus

The jay jeer

Spurt of blue through the trees;

So many now

The robins gone

I notice the numbers

Of jays,

They take over where the robins

Left off.

The trees begin their turn

To new colors,

The jays pose

Against the leaves.

Swoop and blend

With the sky,

Jay jeer as they fly,

They own the fall.