Incidental

While browsing some of my books I came across this sonnet. It is to me very evocative of a number of birds we see around where we live, and I find it quite beautiful.

Autumn Birds

The wild duck startles like a sudden thought

And heron slows as if it might be caught

The flopping crows on weary wings go bye

And grey beard jackdaws noising as they fly

The crowds of starnels wiz and hurry bye

And darken like a cloud the evening sky

The larks like thunder rise and suthy round

Then drop and nestle in the stubble ground

The wild swan hurrys high and noises loud

With white necks peering to the evening cloud

The weary rooks to distant woods are gone

With length of tail the magpie winnows on

To neighbouring tree and leaves the distant crow

While small birds nestle in the hedge below.

John Clare