Poems from Elle's perspective

The Beautiful Birds in God's Own

The fantail flitters and flirts with a tweet,
she's nimble and quick, so cheeky, petite.
Hunting for bugs, she alights in your zone,
one of the beautiful birds in God's Own.

The native owl, solemn, regal and staid,
sends a haunting call - a beckon, then fade,
an invitation or warning in tone,
one of the beautiful birds in God's Own.

The wood pigeon, heavy and ungainly,
coos tributes to pretty plumage, vainly,
she'll gorge on sweet berries that you have grown,
one of the beautiful birds in God's Own.

The pukeko's long red legs make her swift,
she can't fly well, but can swim, that's her gift.
In paddocks, at roadsides, very well known,
one of the beautiful birds in God's Own.

The tui's distinctive warble rings out,
his musical talents are not in doubt.
He'll even mimic a ringing cellphone,
one of the beautiful birds in God's Own.


Kyrielle. Written 7 September 2014.

Note: God's Own is an abbreviation of God's Own Country   which has commonly been used to refer to New Zealand for more than 100 years.