On the gum trees at Birds Paddock crested cockies squawk and call
And the magpies flute their sweetest notes as shades of darkness fall
And the kookaburras laughing, laughing all of their cares away
At Birds Paddock in Tecoma in the gloaming of the day.
To the reed beds for night shelter coot and eastern swamphen fly
And the wild duck back from feeding grounds are circling in the sky
Before coming in for landing on the waters of Birds lake
To rest and sleep and dream their dreams till first ray of daybreak.
O'er Birds Paddock in Tecoma night has spread it's darkened cloak
And the day creatures now resting and night creatures wide awoke
In the reed beds at the lake shore the shy and timid frogs croak
And I hear familiar call sound of nocturnal bird mopoke.
O'er Birds Paddock in Tecoma countless stars are twinkling bright
And I'll leave this wild life sanctuary to the shy birds of the night,
To the barn owls and the frogmouths and the mopokes and nightgars
To hunt in Tecoma gum woods in the faint light of the stars.
Francis Duggan
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/written-after-a-visit-to-birds-paddock/
