Monday, June 16, 2025

Before the too-high heat

 

Before the too-high heat 

Now in the morning’s  cool, before the too-high heat

mosquito buzz

the casement window’s wide 

so volume’s high, the chorus loud 

lead voice out and proud 

the blackcap

his complicated warble strong and sweet. 

Then higher pitched but clear above him

the tiny serin’s notes 

and interwoven harmony, the blackbird’s well-known tune. 

Now of course a sparrow’s tedious chirp 

and underneath a wood pigeon’s steady coo

or better still, improved, the turtle dove

and once, astonishing, a trill of flute from Golden Oriole! 


All in the morning’s cool

a daily treat, identified by Merlin

become my friends, their voices I can name 

singing the soundtrack 

while the landscape’s still and silent 

before the day, the busy-ness and buzz

the world’s intrusion 

before the too-high heat. 

Monday 16th June 2025, Hounoux for Clare