The sun goads the beat of a million bronzed wings
Flush full with the urges that deep night impels
They leap into the air on thermals that sing.
Slowly at first circling – a faint fairy ring
The first ones to lift cast over the spell
The sound of the beat of a million bronzed wings.
They float upwards swiftly in a quick rhythmic fling
But silent – they hold onto the tales they could tell
Dive through silent airwaves onto thermals that sing
The blue dawn presages the coming of spring
Day after day their sheer numbers swell
Warmth drums the beat of a million bronzed wings
That sashay on the winds, their tail feathers tossing
Over rude county fields and the rich citadel
They cruise through the air on thermals that sing
12,000 miles, a most singular crossing
These wizards of wings know this full well
The sun spurs the beat of a million bronzed wings
Cruising high up in the air on thermals that sing!
When Ginny is not examining flowers with a close-up lens, or watching how the scales on a lizard’s back glint in the sun she can usually be found writing. She has been published in many venues –– find her at www.ginnyshort.com.
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie/Swainson’s Hawk Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge