Blue Jays And Calico Poem by Donal Mahoney

They've been here for years
two blue jays who live in our yard
year round.

In winter they're silent
at the feeder but screeching
announces when spring is here

and continues through summer
because the jays have babies
two or three times a season.

The calico likes the tins
my wife puts out for him
and the jays gobble the seed

she puts in the feeder.
She was surprised however
to hear the jays screeching

on a raw day this winter.
Then she looked out the window
and saw the calico climbing

into the spruce where the jays
had babies last year and
and spend time in the winter.

The Farmer's Almanac aside
perhaps the calico believes
spring will be early this year.