A Night In August Poem by Francis Duggan

A cool moonless night just a few visible stars in the sky
The masked lapwing cry in the parkland nearby
For the safety of their young from predators they have reason to fear
On a night in late Winter near the Spring of the year
The vixen's hungry cubs in their den are crying out for meat
And a lapwing chick for them would be nice for to eat
On this cool night in August three weeks from the calendar Spring
The silver billed magpie on a gum tree does sing
On his breeding Season he sings day and night
And to defend his borders he is ready and willing to fight
A temperature high of only four degrees
And a wintry chill in the southerly breeze
And a male possum calls on a high branch of gum tree
He rules as the master of his territory.