A Magpie

A Magpie...a magpie,
Teetering up in the tree.
He was up there just auking,
And talking to me.

Top-heavy he was,
And auking out.
Unsteady on limbs,
As he was walking about.

For auking and talking,
Is about the same.
Bird-talk and cat-talk,
Is a bituminous game.

O a magpie is auking,
And I am out walking.
And we both are aware,
Between us there is talking.

O the magpie...the magpie,
Is loud in his yawks.
For it is a bird-language,
That we share in our gawks.


E.P. 1908 - 1989