Poem 280: This Is My Hometown

The sun is rising earlier with each passing day

This means my daily routine can start without delay

No need to wait for the sun to finally appear

Now when I wake up I have to get myself into gear

It’s still a little chilly but not too hard to bear

No need for me to put on long underwear

I now can put on sneakers, no need for any boots

The path is now so much drier along my well travelled route

I saw my first robin earlier last week

This is the one bird that I  sorely seek

When I get a glimpse of one I know that spring is here

Two days later I was fortunate to see our Canada geese appear

I heard their honking before I saw them in the air

There wasn’t a flock of them, just a single pair

Then yesterday I saw something that I thought I never would

This was witnessed a few streets away in my own neighbourhood

I give my dog all the credit, I would have missed it all

There were eight wild turkeys just to my left, all standing tall

Good thing he was on his leash because he might have chased them down

Perhaps, being a collie he might have even herded them closer into town

I’ve been taking my walks downtown over the entire winter season

I know the sidewalks are always clear and I take it for that very reason

This is the passageway I take on my daily beat

When the temperature rises you may run into strangers on the streets

I have already witnessed these poor people sleeping here and there

If you venture into this area, please be well aware

I’ve seen our local police force out there on patrol

Taking care of these homeless people is a vital role

I wish there was a magic cure or remedy to help this unfortunate group

It seems so many of them are destined to continue on this endless loop

This is a sample of what I experience every day on my walk

Joy and tragedy separated by just a few city blocks