Just lovely, never saw a hummingbird, except on film...you made me want to find out where they live and go see them...very lyrical poetry....thanks for sharing.

Thank you, Mary. You may want to contact the National Audubon Society at 212-979-3000 (New York - eastern time) and find out your local chapter, which would know of a good place to observe these tiny birds.

They can fly forwards and backwards and their wings move so fast they are just a blur. You can see them hovering over flowers to get their nectar with their long, very thin bill.

Seeing one holding still for 15 minutes to preen itself is incredibly rare.

They are like flying jewels. As part of a ethnological crew I was privileged to go to an island off the coast of northern British Columbia and we witnessed the Ruby-throated hummingbird's mating display. What an amazing sight. The male flies straight up about 150-160 ft (he's a dot at that height). He then swoops down to the female's level (she was sitting on an old tree stump) and up he goes again. It's a U-shaped "dance" and as he reaches the female he emits a single chirp. I saw on NOVA or Nature that the "chirp" is actually produced by the airflow through a special feather in the male's tail. It's a wonderful memory I will never forget.

They are extraordinary birds. They're fond of baskets of flowers, hanging from fences or railings on decks. I remember a potluck supper in Seattle years ago when hummingbirds swopped in to gather nectar from hanging baskets on our host's deck and later a bald eagle flew overhead. The smallest and one of our biggest birds (vultures may be a bit bigger).

Good poem. I just painted a hummingbird for my sister since she has hummingbirds she can see outside her family room window. She loves watching them.

Thank you, everyone. Deb, I would have loved to see that mating display. I never heard of that before. Madeleine, we have had this female visiting our flowers but didn't do any hanging baskets this year. We'll have to do that next year. Jackie, you have a lot of artistic talent. I don't think I could draw or paint a hummingbird!

Vicki, I don't paint much anymore except for family members. I recently painted a momma and baby elephant for my 6th great-grandchild, a boy, whose room has an elephant décor. Too much trouble for an old lady to set up art work, etc. But it is relaxing. Takes your mind off everything.

The rhythm of your poem reminded me of song. It would make a charming lyric.