Today’s poem

DAWN CHORUS — A RELUCTANT PARTICIPANT

What is the point of rising

at dawn Making a racket to

welcome the morn? Better to snuggle in my

cosy nest And leave the chirruping to

the rest.

Mum said I ought to be

strutting my stuff, Proclaiming my territory —

I said ‘Enough!’ Creating a noise at the top

of a tree Seems a crazy tradition if

you ask me.

I’ll meet a mate all in

good time, I don’t need to join in this

daft pantomime, After all, I am a most

handsome fellow, With feathers so black and a beak of bright yellow.

But Mum said, you will incur

Dad’s displeasure, Ornithology customs are

things we should treasure. Outside, the family are

all gathering, But I’m so nice and comfy

with head under wing.

All at once I feel a very

sharp peck And a stabbing pain in the

back of my neck. It’s Dad and he’s looking

extremely angry. ‘Get up now!’ he squawks, ‘or there’ll be no worms for tea.’

So here I am joining the

chorus at dawn Pretending to sing while

stifling a yawn. What’s that? A young female admiring my feathers? Perhaps she’d like to go

nesting together.

That dawn chorus was the

start of an excellent day. I met my mate and now we

have eggs on the way. Perhaps Mum and Dad were

right all along — At the crack of dawn why not burst into song?

Mrs Glynis Williams, Peterborough, Cambs.