A poem for the week

Magpies by Judith Wright

Along the road the magpies walk
with hands in pockets, left and right.
They tilt their heads, and stroll and talk.
In their well-fitted black and white

they look like certain gentlemen
who seem most nonchalant and wise
until their meal is served - and then
what clashing beaks, what greedy eyes!

But not one man that I have heard
throws back his head in such a song
of grace and praise - no man nor bird.
Their greed is brief, their joy is long.
For each is born with such a throat
as thanks his God with every note.

Judith Wright (1915 - 2000) loved to write poems about birds.  Most were written during the decade of the 1950's when she lived in the lush rainforest world of Tamborine Mountain in south-east Queensland, the happiest decade of her life.  I like this poem.  It seems to be written in sonnet form.  I like to photograph the birds in my backyard and the magpie is a regular visitor. 

A magpie at my birdbath (instagram @shirleva471 - see
my collection @shirlsbirds)