Song of Spring

 From the hedgerows the foxes bark

And the swans like diplodocuses 

glow in the dark

And the otters paw the banks of gold

Where golden sunlight falls in folds

Raising heads and spirits high

They sing:

To live, to live and not to die

And the Willows twist and stand

Like ancients' fists grown from the land

As Alder drink from watery cup

Their roots that think the wrong way up

And branches are like wizards' sleeves

Too dry, should die, but still believe

Then from their sleeve

Green hands' new growth shoot forth 

and speak their ancient oath

They cry:

To live, to live and not to die

The Narcissi trumpet loud

Spring is come in sky and cloud

As dandelions like lions bold

Turn their yellow faces to uphold

And all the flowers to winter wave goodbye

Singing:

To live, to live and not to die

 

And the Bittern booms his bottle top song

A bottle bank of woodwind birds sing along

And chaffinch dart, and crows they swarm

Come are spring months sunny and warm

Gone are winter months so long and bitter

As Egrets are blown like paper litter

They all sing out their oath and cry

to live, to live and not to die!