People who say roosters crow at dawn have never been around roosters.
For a rooster, even 4:00 a.m. is a good time to crow.
A month ago, there were three roosters in my neighborhood
who crowed before the sun had the idea of showing up.
As of this morning, only one rooster crowed.
I think we all know what that means.
A month ago, there were three African tulip trees in my yard,
doing their best to grow strong and hard, 24/7,
for many decades, pushing against a City and County retaining wall,
not caring about the sun — or the moon — coming up.
Today there are no African tulip trees in my yard.
I think we all know what that means.
Like the last rooster, the retaining wall still stands,
not quite yet taken down.
But one day soon, or not much later,
the rooster and the wall will both be gone.
Lanning Lee 