AMERICAN ROBIN AT MEADOWLARK GARDENS, VIENNA, VIRGINIA

What Robin Told

~George Cooper~

How do the robins build their nests? 

Robin Redbreast told me.

First a wisp of yellow hay

In a pretty round they lay;

Then some shreds of downy moss,

Feathers too and bits of moss.

Woven with a sweet, sweet song,

This way, that way, and across,

That's what Robin told me.

Where do the robins hide their nests?

Robin Redbreast told me.

Up among the leaves so deep,

Where the sunbeams rarely creep,

Long before the winds are cold,

Long before the leaves are gold,

Bright-eyed stars will peep, and see

Baby robins, one, two, three;

That's what Robin told me.

The weather begged me to get outside yesterday, and go over to the gardens.  I could not say no.  Housework can always wait when the sun shines.

I wanted to go birding this time, but always keep my expectations low as the only time I have been here lately is when the sun has been high in the sky.  Not conducive to seeing the birds or taking photographs.  Still hopeful I went more to enjoy a good walk than anything else, and as I walked along the path I came across the robin foraging among dead leaves. Robin was telling me that spring was on the way and that I should commemorate the occasion by taking its photo.  Thank you Dear Robin, you were a joy to see.  The nest wasn't too far away, an old one from last year, ready and waiting.  

Red from Haiwatha House in his comment said that many are unaware that even though our bird is well known as the American Robin, it is incorrectly named and is actually a thrush.  Thanks Red, good to know and I enjoy learning these things.  Later I read that when people saw the bird when the country was first settled, it was named Robin because of its red breast, which reminded them of the European Robin. 

I believe this poem was referring to the European Robin, but I liked the words and decided to use it.

Thank you for looking 

and enjoy your day.