THE HOBBY SWOOPS DOWN
FROM A CLEAR BLUE SKY
IN AWE I WATCH IT
TAKE A SWIFT UPON THE WING
IT’S FLYING SO FAST
I CAN HARDLY MAKE IT OUT
MEANWHILE OVER THE FENCE
I HEAR A BLACKBIRD SING
SPARROWS AND DUNNOCKS
ARE BUSY IN THE HEDGE
A MAGPIE TAPS THE GLASS
UP ON THE WINDOW LEDGE
OUTSIDE IN THE YARD
THE SEAGULLS AND THE CROWS
ARE PECKING PLASTIC BAGS
FOR ALL OUR OVER THROWS
I GET TO THINKING
ABOUT SOMETHING THAT AIN’T RIGHT
HOW COMES THE BUZZARD
IS DRIVEN OUT BY THE KITE?
BY THE DRY STONE WALL
HERE COMES JENNY WREN
COAL TITS AND FINCHES
ARE AT THE NUTS AGAIN
SWALLOWS AND MARTINS
SCREECH AROUND THE HOUSE
THIS TIME THE HOBBY
IS TEARING UP A MOUSE

Harry Rogers, 28th February 2011, revised in the Red Bedroom, 9th February 2021