Kookaburra
This feathered comedian
sits perched on a suburban fence
scanning for what crawls the ground
or pokes a careless head up to break
the surface of a backyard pond,
stropps its beak to clean off
the leftovers from its last kill,
lifts its head and laughs.
But there is no frivolity trumpeting
from its throat, only a triumphant
boast, a warning to all held
in the cross hairs of its sight
that it owns this acre.
A rush of blood lifts a sudden
flare of wings and powers
a plunging terror towards
the unwary.
Then, bloated,
it squats on a high branch
with its blunt head motionless,
eyes locked in a meditative stare.
It cares little for the honour it has
in the hierarchy of native species,
or that its laugh is almost elevated
to the status of the National prayer.
Note.
The Kookaburra is a bird belonging
to the Kingfisher family and is endemic
to Australia, particularly the east coast.
It is celebrated for its distinctive
laughing call. In a way the Kookaburra
symbolises the irreverent side to
the National character.
Copyright © Paul Willason | Year Posted 2022
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