Tuesday 4 November 2008

Magpie


In your black tie and tails,
you strut
importantly
round the garden,
clearing up the crumbs,
eyes alert – watching
like a maitre d'.

Unafraid of humans,
you court their company,
envying their bright playthings,
catching their attention.
“What a smart bird!”

But Beware!
Come Spring, with its
eggs and nestlings;
then you show your
True Colours.

20 comments:

Crafty Green Poet said...

oh so very true, they look so smart but are horrors really...

Elizabeth said...

Yes, I have sort of mixed feelings about magpies - and always count them.
Is that little dog below yours?
Our last dog was a wonderful terrier mix and brought us great joy.
We are waiting for the election results.
We REALLY want Obama to win.

Welcome To Wilmoth Farms said...

Lovely Poem! Did you write that??? Wonderful! I think they are beautiful birds! I would love to see one myself in "real-life"!

Annie Wicking said...

What an amazing poem, Weaver!

Thank you for sharing it with us.

Best wishes, my dear friend

Annie

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Ooh, we don't have these! So pretty. Are they really such a nuisance?
Lovely poem!

Gigi Ann said...

Such a cute little bird, but sounds like he may not be as cute as he looks in the picture?

I enjoyed reading your lovely poem.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Annie - still having difficulty leaving a comment on your site.

Janice Thomson said...

Your magpies are much brighter colored than ours. Lovely poem Weaver!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for the comment c.g.p

The Weaver of Grass said...

Congratulations Elizabeth on the Obama victory - glad it went well.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Yes I did write the poem kyfarmlife. Do you not have magpies in the States? They are deceptively beautiful but eat eggs and nestlings in Summer.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Yes Pamela they are pretty awful in the bird-breeding season.

The Weaver of Grass said...

As you say, gramma ann - not as cute as he looks.

Liz said...

Weaver you are such a great poet. I love the photo. We have magpies here but they are nastier and way bigger. We call them the Beagle boys. One of my neighbours came over the other day with a gun but only managed to take down a couple of them. I have one in a tree down our driveway - now I have to take a big stick with me so I don't get dive bombed!!!
Great post hope you are well and staying warm
Liz

Woman in a Window said...

Love this, "like a maitre d'."

So true.

Thanks for coming by my place the other day. Much appreciated.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I am astonished to hear about your giant magpies, madbush - shall now go and look them up in my "Birds of the World."

The Weaver of Grass said...

Glad you like the poem woman in a window. Have added you to my blog list.

Acornmoon said...

That is a lovely photograph, did you take it? I like your poem very much especially the "true colours"

I did enjoy reading about your pheasant chick rescue.

By the way, forgive my ignorance but what is a "dry cow" is it one that has no calf?

BT said...

Great poem weaver, and photo. We have a huge magpie's nest at the top of a sycamore tree here. We now have 3 magpies regularly visiting the bird table. Luckily they don't manage to get at the nuts. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with them. They have to eat, too!

I loved the magpies in Australia. They made an amazing warbling sound, not the harsh racket the magpies here make.

ArtPropelled said...

They are rather beautiful.
Great poem, Weaver.