On Lame Magpie Larks Poem by Francis Duggan

With her very sore right foot one could not help but feel sorry for the poor little thing
How will she cope at her breeding time in the early Spring
Building her cup shaped nest of mud on fork of branch of tree
And her partner too lame though not as lame as she

Is but the task of nest building for them in their state
Of visible impairment for them might prove too great
Since they may not be able to defend a challenge from their own kind in their side of the park
To keep a territory not easy for a lame magpie lark.

How often in the park I hear them call out pee wee
Not rare though they do seem quite lovely to me
Black and white like miniature magpies but less aggressive by far
And with other birds less likely to go to war.

Both visibly lame though she more so than her mate
Their handicaps all sorts of problems for them may create
Especially in their breeding Season which is not far away
That their future not looking good for them does seem sad to say.