Dawn

The tentative, probing fingers of dawn
begin their early reminders to night
that its dark curtain must be lifted.
The diurnal signal for the onstage
performance of song sparrows,
cardinals, goldfinches, each eager
to trill their operatic welcome to
light, colours, shapes returned to
morning, stretching into another day.

The night's rain that so excited the
early morning prospects of robins
has left bright yellow streaks of
pollen on all obliging surfaces. Soon
the sky presents as blue as the
Mediterranean sea, with contrails
wisping languorously beyond and above.

The restless world of the forest
awakens as light slowly creeps into
every interstice of opportunity, reminding
its creatures that yet another day
awaits their exacting routines
so carefully constructed by nature.