October Birds in the Garden
Above me, tree shakes
Branches full of long-tailed tits
Singing and dancing
As I clear back weeds
Robin inspects my hard work
For her worms and bugs
Pigeon hoists feathers
Dips a toe into bird bath
Then clambers in, ahh!
The rooks yell at me
‘No food yet, birds’, I yell back
‘Not till November!’
Where are my starlings?
Lone bird calls from the chimney
Hoping flock returns
I find feathers today
One for sorrow, two for joy
The magpie’s message
