NEVER-ENDING POEM

Maggie Magpie

What Have You Found?

Maggie magpie on the hunt

Not for food, a rocket or a stunt

Materials for a nest instead

In anticipation of an egg

A stroke of luck

Hanging basket to pluck

Indifference to consequence

Absence of sonder competence

Plant left to adapt

With soil no longer trapped

Lucky the incident was observed

Relocation to a new home deserved

I can almost taste Spring in the air.

We are still experiencing some very chilly days but scattered with warmth and sunshine.

Blossoms appearing and preparations are in the making.

This piece inspired by a magpie we caught gathering materials from our verandah. For what we assumed to be a nest.

One year, we witnessed a game maggie checking out supplies in the shed.

He made off with a piece of wire which we saw him bend into a hook-like shape, for what exactly we can only imagine.

How’d we know it was a he? The males have feathers on the back of their necks that are bright white. The females’ feathers mottled with grey/brown in the same spot.

Magpies have a gorgeous sweet song. We love listening to them, chatter away to each other.

In spring, we gladly keep our distance, though. Magpies are very protective of their nests and young and will swoop anyone they deem to be a threat.

Swooping magpies are known to go for peoples “eyes” so ducking your head when hearing their attacking “clacks” is imperative.

Australians can go to extreme lengths for protection, for good reason, but still, the antics keep me amused every year.

Special thanks go to

Martin Rushton for the never-ending poem, loving that it is living up to its name.

Paroma Sen for the prompt rocket

Caroline de Braganza for the prompt anticipation

Joe Luca for the prompts indifference and stroke

Timothy Key for the prompt consequence

Swastika for the prompt sonder

and Desiree Driesenaar for also making use of the prompt stroke

Thanks for reading

Thanks for being you