Bird pilgrimage
they walk the lake fringe
amidst its shore’s rehabitation
the susurrus of the lapping tide
a gentle background rhythm
to the chatter of a willy–wag tail
and magpie warble
they listen
after the whoo-crack of the whip bird
laugh together
when the female doesn’t answers her cheepcheep
they take a less worn track
through a forest of swamp oaks
come upon a landcare effort
at planting a stand of banksia
now wild with flickers of candle-fire
he was the first to spot
the honeyeater curled on a candle cone
she was the first to hear fairy wrens
chirping in the bristly heath
he spots the first one dart
low across dun grasses
so quick only visible swaying
is her first view and then she sees them
she says they are a burst of cobalt sky
he says blue shot in a shiny black cloak
and admires the aegis for the harem of
smaller brown females
they find an open grassy spot
warm curved encounter with
trunks of swamp oaks
upon which to lean their backs
little did they know
they had chosen the home
of a butcher bird family
who flew down to join their picnic
she listens to their song
he observes variance of colour
males, females, juveniles
and their glossy beaks
when they both struggle up to walk back
their attention returns to the lake
she admires the elegance of the black swans
he notices how the pelican looks so stately
she points out the swans’ flounce
as they bottom-up to feed
in the sea grasses
he admires the spoonbills way of grazing
seeing a large darter
with black wings hanging out
he calls it Dracula of the lake
she calls him a shag on the rock
and they both laugh
when cormorants dive
it becomes fun to guess
their resurface spots
they both sign with delight
at the family of ducklings passing
chaperoned so closely by mum and dad duck
he quotes Wordsworh’s ninth sonnet
“who put budding courage to the test”
i just stand in wonder
he points out a white–faced heron
she notices a few more
and a white egret
together they admire the elegance
of the herons stalking in the sea grasses
mindfully step by step
reminded of conscious walking
heads high
backs straight
they walk slowly home
hand in hand
to the willy–wag tail chitter
