Homework w/e 12.8.14 - A LABOUR OF LOVE IN MY GARDEN

[Maureen K Clifford]

The little nest I found was no bigger than an eggcup and in area that the dogs were around all day and just at the bottom of the back steps - Obviously Mama bird has also figured out that no marauding cats or cranky crows or other predators were going to come that close and steal her babies. Sadly the lavender bush which was magnificent succumbed to wet feet in the floods of 2013 and it never recovered. Mrs Wren now nests in my neighbours Lilly Pilly which is on our shared fenceline.


A LABOUR OF LOVE IN MY GARDEN
Maureen Clifford © The Scribbly Bark Poet


I was outside in the garden, working damn hard as one does,
pruning shrubs and trimming trees and pulling pesky weeds of course.
In my hand I had my secateurs for lavender I was thinning
when I chanced to see a little nest complete with soft fur trimming.

This little nest was tiny, not much bigger than a cup.
So sweet and dainty one could see it was made with such love.
Each piece of grass was woven...it was quite a work of art
I just knew the bird that made it had a most artistic heart.

I think that it was made by the little Superb Blue Wren
that lives within my garden..I often see them when
I wash up in the morning, they quickly dart and fly
as they feed on winged insects that often times pass by.

The male , well he's quite flashy. A lair - a bright blue streak.
Mrs Wren is brown and dowdy, rather quiet and somewhat meek.
She follows. Always one step back, it seems he is the King.
Her thought for her chicks comfort, to this small nest she did bring.

It’s lined within with softest fur. Mahalia's I perceived.
The best fur, thick and soft and white, so cleverly inter weaved.
This mother bird had collected shed fur to line her nest.
Mahalia's fur is beautiful - the bird wanted the best.

I left the lilac bush alone, the nest hidden inside
and felt so privileged to share. Such wonder I’d espied.
Her eggs she'll lay in ermine fur, in lavender, mauve and thick
and soon I hope to see the little Blue Superb Wren chicks.

[Neville Briggs]

Encapsulates a slice of almost unnoticed drama. The old song says " His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me "

[Maureen K Clifford]

I'm sure he does just that Neville and the detail in even the tiniest little flower or leaf is nothing short of amazing - someone must be responsible

[Terry]

There's something about birds isn't there, they seem to fascinate most people.
Having a wren nest so close to your house was interesting; as you say they must have felt it was a safe place.

Terry