For the past few months a raccoon has lived in the pine tree behind my house

That one raccoon somehow turned into three

I was sad to realize this week that they’ve all moved out

That mama raccoon used to stare at me

I’d stare at her

Her eyes were masked

Would she say mine were too if I asked

Where’d they go

The other day I saw another raccoon running down the sidewalk

It was mid-day

Maybe he couldn’t sleep – like me

Or at least not deeply

The tree is now vacant

Crepe myrtles are in bloom

Nature is latent

I was dismayed by the loss of those adorable raccoons

But I noticed yesterday after stepping out my front door

A robin exploded off from just overhead

I looked around to see where she’d made her bed

A round modest nest, twigs and grass stuck together

A shaded home in this humid weather

Then today when I came home that robin took off

I looked up in that little loft

There were two points coming out

“Tweet-tweet”

Two open beaks

New babies, new life

What a delight to my eyes

A robin family on my front porch

I’m not sure how long they’ll stay

I go inside and greet my family: a sweet husband and a lovely Golden

The best ending to my day

We watch from the window: the robin returns to the nest with some food

Those little beaks open wide

I marvel at nature and the Creator

Inside my abode, like the raccoons and robins

With those I love, a full belly, and a heart full of gratitude