Shake It Off! Shake It Off! Poem by Denis Martindale

He plucked, then pulled and preened a while,
For all the world to see,
Well, one at least, and with a smile,
One witness, namely me.
I saw this magpie on a roof,
That some were bound to scoff,
But, no, not me, and that's the truth!
Shake it off! Shake it off!

Fastidious and frantic, too,
Five minutes, maybe more,
As if this were the thing to do,
So he was clean for sure.
His long tail rose and rose again,
Plucked by his outstretched neck.
He put to shame all dirty men,
Unbothered! 'What the heck! ? '

The magpie calmed himself at last,
With such amazing grace,
Pristine again, no more aghast,
And proud to show his face!
Impressing females was his aim,
Of that I've got no doubt!
His 'Shake it off! ' was not a game!
As females would find out!

If only young men passed the test
To look as good as he,
A happy magpie at his best,
Only for me to see!


Denis Martindale.6th of August 2026.


Here is a 'Taylor-made' little birdie poem by the Poemhunter poet Denis Martindale. The poet had woken up and tidied himself up as usual. The face and hands were washed clean with lots of soap lather, cooling his skin after another 'heatwave' night. The grey hair was combed precisely, so it looked perfect once again. Shirt on, and then the time for the finishing touch, a cup of charismatic coffee!

Upon leaving the kitchen, he climbs the stairs and gazes out the window at whatever is in the street today. And immediately, he spots the frantic antics of a fastidious magpie, utterly and totally obsessed with plucking, pulling and preening like he was inventing a new Olympic sport! Then he would shake his body furiously just like a wet dog does after a paddle in the river!

The poet smiling at this unexpected visual display, as if it were a parable, Heaven-sent to remind him to keep up appearances as soon as each new day starts! Even before that marvellous magpie had flown to parts unknown, the poet recalled the beautiful Taylor Swift in her amusing music video! Hence the poem's title, 'SHAKE IT OFF! SHAKE IT OFF! '