Hummingbird Weather

By Ethel Jacobson

Tiniest, daintiest of birds,

Blithe and bright and nimble,

You became our guest

When you built a nest

The size of Mother’s thimble.

You brooded the eggs, the fledglings too,

Ever alert to danger.

You chased away

A robber jay

A tomcat, a prowling stranger!

We watched your babies try their wings,

Then you all flew off together.

Now we hope next year

You’ll fly back here,

The South on each jeweled feather.

Illustrated by Dick Brown