The Indigo Bunting

The Indigo Bunting

This poem takes a look at one year in the life cycle of the Indigo Bunting.

Springtime
    Cool showers soothe hot days
    Flowers bloom, new songs are heard
Indigo
    The glossy color flashes
    It perches on apple blossoms
Warbling
    Its song pierces through treetops
    It lures a secretive partner
Brown
    The female arrives late
    Unseen she builds the nest
Woven
    A cup of grasses and twigs
    Lined softly with moss and hair
Eggs
    Four laid in equal days
    Delicately glossed in pure white
Concealed
    Silently sitting she waits
    Her mate stands guard from afar
Danger
    His tail flicks, frantically flying
    His body fluffs, frantically clicking
Relief
    Enemies vanish, nestlings appear
    Mother's work has just begun
Feeding
    She alone tends to her young
    Father distracts with flashy color
Fledglings
    Leave the nest
    They now must feed themselves
Indigo
    Father changes his suit
    Looks more like his mate
Flocks
    Slowly growing daily
    Planning to leave this land
Autumn
    Flocks fly by night
    Guided south by the stars
Winter
    Colorless blankets of white
    Lifeless until sprouts appear
Springtime
    Cool showers soothe hot days
    Flowers bloom, new songs are heard