We're past that now

First to arrive

and last to leave

the robins make you think

you're in

for an Indian Summer

but I believe we're past that now

still

it was nice to see

a group

of four

splashing

in a puddle

on the driveway

when leaves

have already been raked

and first frost

settling

to nightly routine

unlike the English robin

these are apparently

a species

of thrush

still

dainty

in their own way

their russet breasts

matching the pumpkins

on the steps

I had a silly thought

perhaps

with their entreating chirps

they were

trick or treating

perhaps they were old residents

of the street

come back

in disguise

to tease

and remind us

they're still here

though much changed

and diminished

in size

but tall yet

in spirit

as they tugged

at the lawn

for worms

or whatever was going

when life was already draining

from the trees

and the whispers

of the dawn.

Comments

Animals and aliens

When you think of Orwell's Animal Farm , you get stuck on the idea of some being more equal than others. But world peace, galactic harmony, the celebration of diversity and the active practice of inclusion are all achieved in science fiction by casting minorities in the role of animals and aliens. Star Trek comes to mind in this regard, where even hippies were disposed of, Federation style, as sensitive dissenting aliens, not forgetting Spock with his pointy ears! And then there were Wookiees, still man's best friend. Viewing animals as humans--anthropomorphizing--or treating different races as aliens, all of this is shape shifting. This shape is my shade, there where I used to stand--that's Steely Dan.

Of course she's not a true red

As the parent of a "ginger", and having red heads on both sides of the family, and having married into two Irish families, I know first hand that ginger covers the whole spectrum from strawberry blonde (to my way of thinking a classic ginger!), to orange (carrot tops), to a real rust red (what my father in law would call a true red). When Pat Todkill first set eyes on his granddaughter, he remarked, "Of course, she's not a true red". For one thing, Emily the Elder lacked freckles on her face and upper body. For another, she really was and is a strawberry blonde. A further observation. Even people with the raven blackest hair have rust red lights--caveman red, soot covered ochre if you like. Woolly mammoth red. Sometimes it takes just the right light to pick out the smoldering ember, but beard and eyebrows tend to incorporate the tell tale ginger strain, like chili pepper in a spice jar of mixed pepper corns. And, of course, brunette...

Things always end in the Summer

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