SPRING POEM

by MICHAEL ROLOFF
(SEATTLE)

The Robins are in good voice at 4:30 a.m.
Yes the Robins are back in the mating game,
and the Mating Game is on Starbucks t.v.
'what Lola Wants' is on.
Lola wants good coffee
and to be well whatever
and the Starbucks baristas have been retrained
and chirp 'good morning' 'how are ya?'
"good morning how are ya"
"good"
to every customer
till you are sick of them
and wish they would say
'ya know, I feel just as dazed as you look'
I had to go to bed too early
to be whatever.

Ah Robin W.
where are you
the Robin of B.H.
at Rockaway Beach
are you still
in the autumn
quite still
raising baby Robins
getting them to fly
not fall out of nests
to get ready for the mating game
and to chirp like the dickens come next spring.

MICHAEL ROLOFF