Winter Birds in Minnesota

Winter Birds in Minnesota

High above winter’s frosted trees

Above the Mississippi,

Clouds thaw,

In the afternoon sun—

Fly! Fly low winter birds of Minnesota

Fly low: chipper on, wave

Those rusted wings waiting for spring

Fly low: fly low, play your

Games of ‘Hide and go seek,’ defying

The frail soul in this land of cold

Of arctic winds: and bleak snow …!

Happy the birds—despite their frets, —

Despite the woes and dim fields of

Corn now froze, now full of snow,

Where they fly over in a silent pose,

Waiting for Minnesota’s spring thaw!

Fly! Fly low winter birds of Minnesota.