I looked at a Rook...

I looked at a rook,
He looked at me,
I in my nook,
He in his tree.

He gave such a look
Of scorn and pride,
I shut my book
And crept inside.

I took from a hook
My gun to kill
That haughty rook,
Who meant me ill;

But just as I took
Most careful aim
He gave me a look
That said: ‘For shame!

Before ye came, long, long ago, These woods were haunt of rook and crow, Of badger and wolf and doe in flight— A squirrel could swing from Dale to Bight— Ye think me rude to thus intrude Upon thy paltry solitude? And yet thy gun much ruder is, For which of us intruder is?’

I looked at the rook,
He looked at me,
I in my nook,
He in his tree;
Back to its hook
Went gun— and, aye,
Back to my nook
Went book and I.

Felix Dennis