UNSETTLED BY A PIGEON & TWIGS, UNFAZED BY AIRLINERS & A GUN. AND A CUCKOO CALLED MELLOW...

 Unsettled By A Pigeon & Twigs, Unfazed By Airliners & A Gun. 

And A Cuckoo Called Mellow…

Tentatively, expectantly and speculatively

Badgers and cubs popped up from holes, intuitively.

Sensing food scraps, eager snouts rifled the ground,

Through twigs and plants with a dry, snuffling sound.

And a gun fired. And an airliner droned. Amazed, 

I was incredulous that the mammals were unfazed.

And the call of a cuckoo rang sweetly mellow…

Furtively, silently and evocatively

Badgers and cubs dropped back into holes, defensively.

Leaving food scraps, keen ears had picked up conflicting

Sounds amongst the foliage and beyond, restricting

Feeding. Leaves had rustled as a pigeon’s wings had flapped,

   Scaring the mammals as flimsy twigs had feebly snapped.

Yet the call of the cuckoo rang ever mellow… 

Pete Ray

20th May 2022

Again, the badgers and their cubs fed with gusto as the occasional gun sounded, regular airlines groaned above, geese honked noisily and blackbirds sang shrill tunes.

Even rare passing cars were not quite as fearsome.

However, a pigeon’s cumbersome and careless landing, cracking twigs and rustling leaves sent the animals scuttling inside their setts…

Fascinating…

But the distinct cuckoo still called…