SONGBIRD

[Maureen K Clifford]

Songbird

Maureen Clifford © 7/13
The Scribbly Bark Poet




He sits and serenades me with the sweetest lyric song
all dressed up in a smart tux – black and white.
He’s performed for an hour without an interval in-between
and each song he’s sung has been a sheer delight.
The price paid for admission is a very paltry sum
which I guarantee my income wont deplete.
I offer him fresh water from a handmade pottery cup
and then feed the inner man with bread and meat.

He relishes the welcome and appreciates applause,
he bows and struts along the slender stage
that is his best performing place, where everyone can see
and marvel at his voice and be amazed.
The songs he sings are awesome and no song he sings I’ve heard
before – he has a repertoire unique.
He’s young and rather handsome in a sleek and shiny way
with his black hair slicked and feathers looking sleek.

He is quite my favourite fella – my fine young feathered friend
he sings – I listen marvelling at his voice
and thank the one responsible for creating this earth
and animals, in whom I do rejoice.
To commune with an magpie as I do is really great
a mutual admiration is exchanged.
I like his songs – he like my food – there’s understanding there
and neither of us feel we are short-changed.

[Stephen Whiteside]

Lovely, Maureen.

Reminds me of "The Singing Garden", C. J. Dennis' final book.

His magpie can be found here:
http://bushpea.com/bd/pg/all/a/australi ... %2001.html
(as you are probably already aware...)

[Neville Briggs]

Won't be long before we get dive bombed by the nesting maggies.

[Stephen Whiteside]

Better write a poem about it, Neville. Do you have one of those caps with fierce eyes painted on the back of it?

[Bob Pacey]

Does Not need them Steve this is scary enough.

[Stephen Whiteside]

Point taken!

[Neville Briggs]

Point ? what point. What are you doing with my avatar Mr Pacey.

I have used the giant eyes on the back of my bicycle helmet Stephen, and they are effective in warding off magpie attacks.

As for a poem. There are a few magpie poems about and done better than I could do.
Maureen's is a good one here. I can't think of how to do it over again in a fresh way.

[Maureen K Clifford]

Thank you Neville - I am a bit partial to maggies have got a few poems on them now The family I have are pretty much resident in my yard all year round this must be about the 5th or 6th lot of chicks they have raised and I see the female is starting to nest again - ripping the coir fibres out of my pot plants as she does. They never attack me or the dogs as I suppose the bit of tucker they get extra from me keeps us in sweet with them, plus I tell them every time they sing how beautiful their songs are - so I figure you are not going to bag an appreciative audience.

[Neville Briggs]

I am not sure where the maggies nest near my place Maureen, but you will be horrified ( as I was ) that the other day three magnificent tall spotted gum ( I think ) trees disappeared into a monster wood munching machine. I'l miss them, I could see them from my window and they showed the weather and the seasons. The cockatoos used to get up there squawking away.
Now just a blank patch of sky.
I think the maggies nest in a large pine tree which is still intact.

[Glenny Palmer]

Oooh grrr!! Neville. They just did the same thing here. I woulda chained meself to the (200 yr old!!) tree if I'da knowed in time....grrr!! but at my age they probably woulda chain sawed me too.
Anyway..........
My angel neighbour Gail would feed brown bears if they ventured into her yard. (Her latest visitor is an Echidna!) Anyway...the Maggies all seem to know where she is if she's not home, & there's one 'teenager' that begged a morsel from her the other day when she was having a brew with me out the back of my place. So...today I nearly tripped over him right inside my house!! I dunno who got the bigger fright...but I gave him a piece of rissole anyway....never heard of birds coming inside before. I get a tiny wee bat zooming around from time to time, but not usually birds..??