HUMMINGBIRDS HOVER

And yet here we are
as brightly colored drones
with needle lips
invade by hundreds, by thousands
from Canada to refuel
at this drinking gourd of red plastic,
to load sugar until ready
to cross New England,
cross mountains, suburbs and farms,
cross non-stop the Gulf of Mexico

Next year survivors
spirits of speed
with throats sparkling of ruby
will return, will build nests
of silk stolen from spiders,
nests the size of thimbles
that stretch as nestlings
grow into glory
intricately engineered
by nature’s design
for improbable endurance
like you, dear reader, like you