The Voices Of Birds Poem by Francis Duggan

The currawongs sing in the wood over there
They cannot be mistook for their familiar air
They call karrawang flying from tree to tree
You know them by their song before them you do see.

The kookaburra's voice floats in the morning breeze
And white backed magpies pipe their lovely melodies
And the loud and harsh calls of the dark pale eyed crow
The voices of some birds one does get to know.

The voices of some birds one cannot mistake
They chirp and they sing on the trees at daybreak
The blackbird, house sparrow, butcherbird and shrike thrush
They chirp and they whistle on hedgerow and bush.

The song of the birds is a natural thing
Some sing all year round and others only in Spring
And the birds will be here when i am long gone
And in wood, park and garden their songs will live on.