Reasons to Feed the Birds Sonnet
Bruno the Blackbird sings for his tea
every day at quarter past three.
Five minutes later here’s his partner Brunette,
accompanied by the bluetit quartet.
El Rosso the robin like Gio Compario
joins in the choir by singing soprano.
The sparrow teams flutter and chitter and chatter -
they’re in the wrong key but that doesn’t matter.
The goldfinches beat-box: chee-chakka-chaw
and a lesser-spotted woodpecker drums in 4/4
but the loudest refrain in the garden is when
the shrillest trill bursts from the tiniest wren.
She’s brown and she’s flighty and quite hard to see
but she riffs like a diva: Here I am! Look at me!
every day at quarter past three.
Five minutes later here’s his partner Brunette,
accompanied by the bluetit quartet.
El Rosso the robin like Gio Compario
joins in the choir by singing soprano.
The sparrow teams flutter and chitter and chatter -
they’re in the wrong key but that doesn’t matter.
The goldfinches beat-box: chee-chakka-chaw
and a lesser-spotted woodpecker drums in 4/4
but the loudest refrain in the garden is when
the shrillest trill bursts from the tiniest wren.
She’s brown and she’s flighty and quite hard to see
but she riffs like a diva: Here I am! Look at me!
This poem is copyright (©) Lesley James 2024
About the Writer
Lesley James
Lesley writes for young people and less young people. Many of her stories and poems for children are set in Lesley’s Garden, where a cast of birds, beasts and minibeasts live. She loves playing with words - rhythms, rhymes, tongue-twisters - and telling real tales. Nothing is more funny, thrilling or entertaining than the real life you can see from your own window.
