Mid November Morning In Cowes Poem by Francis Duggan

The magpie pipes the dawn in on high branch of blackwood tree
And silver gulls are calling in Cowes by the sea
And the sooty oystercatchers are whistling as they fly
And pied shag standing on the beach with his wings hung out to dry.

The magpie lark is singing his voice one can't mistake
He is one that you hear often or just before daybreak
In fork of branch his partner sits in her mud nest
Her unborn young growing in the eggs kept warm beneath her breast.

The streets of Cowes deserted no cars pass up and down
And all seems very peaceful in Phillip Island's Premier Town
But from late December until February though early you may wake
You will see holiday makers on the beach at daybreak.

In Cowes in Phillip Island the dawn is breaking gray
And the streets and beach deserted a pleasant time of day
The Town park by the ocean is looking fresh and green
And an artist on his canvas might glorify this scene.