Time's Up

The avian migration has begun; 
at night the sound of the warblers 
 calling softly to one another
presumably helpfully guiding 
each other and maintaining the 
night comfort of a group, while 
during the daytime, it's the 
honking call of Canada geese
lead navigator sternly reminding 
those who fail to pack into their 
tight, elongated arrow due south 
that if they stray, they're on their 
own. The lunatic call of the 
Pileated woodpeckers are now 
heard more frequently
and bluejays scarce through
the summer months have 
 temporarily returned to the woods
with their unmistakable high-pitched 
call reminding that birds respond
to the same imperative of survival
that we do, preparing ourselves
in the grim mentality that fears
winter's onset, as we mourn
the passing of carefree summer
days of warmth and pleasure
in leisure and admiration of all
growing garden features when
birds splash purposefully in the
baths set out for their pleasure
and ours in observing them in
the days now steadily slipping 
away, late dawns and early dusk
the order of the day as fall
invites winter to take its interim
place in the seasonal panoply.