I waited for you in the rain

After fighting with Friday traffic and severe thunderstorms, I arrived home at around 6 o'clock and saw my bird feeders were misplaced all over my yard. Cardinals, titmice and woodpeckers were calling and waiting for their dinner. I was so starving too but I could not eat without feeding my feathered friends first. While refilling my feeders, a tiny red object twinkled few times from a leafless Hydrangea over my head. I smiled and without a second thought, I knew someone else was also here waiting for me. This poem is inspired by my beloved Ruby-throated Hummingbird (follow link to a video I made in the past) and a lost friend ..........   I hope you enjoy it! -- Linda

Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird is only about 2.8 in (or 7 cm)
Click image to enlarge

"I don't know where you're from

I don't know where you're going

I waited for you in the rain

Coming into my life with a glimpse of your iridescent smile

You say you brought me something

Your stories, your journey and a Ruby

I say, 

Please stay, please don't leave

Please wait for me, wait for me

wait for me in the sun

Hopeful spring, anticipating

Blissful summer, hovering

Colorful autumn, ever changing

It's time to go now, you say

Leaving me with aches of your unspoken heart
You say,
You will call and you will write
No voice, no letter, not even a word
But,
You waited, you waited
You waited for me in the rain

Hopeful spring, anticipating

Blissful summer, hovering

Colorful autumn, ever changing

It's time to go now
It's time to go farther now

I don't know where you're from

I don't know where you're going

But, I waited for you in the rain
I waited for you in the rain
And I'll keep on waiting"

Note: Last week someone posted on GABO-L and said they thought their backyard hummingbirds seemed to be less in number. I checked my own records and found out actually, the total number of hummingbirds will keep increasing through out July and August and reach the maximum in first two weeks of September. This week, I have to put out 8 nectar feeders and I have about 8 to 10 hummers these days, number is consistent in the past two years. Wildlife will self-adjust according to the food source and weather condition. I now have three males. two immature and three females.

Due to the heat, I have to replace nectar (I make them fresh) every other day and I found  these small 2.5Oz handheld feeders come very handy,  easy to clean and to refill (since I dumped out old nectar, in this way not much nectar will be wasted). They are not very decorative but they suit my purpose well. You can buy them from Lowe's or Wal-Mart.