Winter Blue Jay

A few weeks back my son Jonah surprised me with a painting of a Blue Jay. As I looked at the picture, remarking how lovely and fun it was, I was also reminded how beautiful a Blue Jay is. Especially in the Winter. The mountains and fields are grey and brown and the any bit of color is a welcomed sight. So I decided to write a sonnet about this infamous visitor to the bird-feeder.

Winter Blue Jay

In warmth and sun, when songbirds preen and wing

About the budding, later leaf rich, boughs,

The jay is brusque. The finch and wren, alight,  

With yellow flash or speckled sweep aloft

Are forced from seed and suet. Blue and black

Wings thwack at fleeing songbirds as they fly;

The Blue Jay struts and kicks in arrogance

And feeds. A bully that birdwatchers hate.

He flings the husks of broken seed about

With harsh and broken caws, instead of song.  

But when the life and color drains from limbs,

Of trees, now cold, bereft of song and wing, 

The flash of blue is oft a welcom’d sight. 

A vibrant show of life amongst dead leaves