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Bill Milner

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The Lure

The Lammas plum tree has a foreign crop -
I’ve filled the wire bird-feeder to the top
with peanuts, although, since the young have flown,
and all the birds can find food on their own,
some people would perhaps say there’s no need
for me to buy this supplementary feed.
Yet, when I hang the feeder on its hook
and the first birds have been to have a look,
others flock in from hedges, fields and trees
to fatten on as much food as they please.
It doesn’t take me long to realise
that even little birds need big supplies.
Why do it? Because if I persevere
something that wouldn’t otherwise appear,
maybe a rare, elusive bird made bold
by growing hunger and the winter’s cold -
one even experts didn’t know was there -
will sail in one day through the misty air
and make me, as it perches on my wrist,
envied by every ornithologist.

Page(s) 47

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