Ken Boddie

7 years ago · 1 min. reading time · 0 ·

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Hello, Mister 🐧

Hello, Mister 🐧

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This magpie has been coming to visit for a couple of years now and sometimes brings along a fledgeling. I understand they recognise individual human features. Here is what she said to me the other day. 

-------------------------

Hello, mister. Yes, it's me, 

Here I am again. 

Switch off your computer screen, 

Put away your pen.

--------------------------

When I come to visit you, 

Please don't think me rude, 

I'm not here for company,

I'm just here for food.

----------------------------

I will peck at most things, 

If they taste all right, 

Little bits of fruit or cheese, 

Or meat, what a delight. 

-----------------------------

I will even eat the seed, 

You give your cocky, Poops, 

She won't mind you giving me, 

One or two big scoops.

------------------------------

When it comes to food, you know, 

Birdies of a feather, 

Share a tit bit now and then, 

When we flock together.

-------------------------------

I remember features,

I remember faces, 

Like the little girl next door,

With her brand new braces.

--------------------------------

I think you're so handsome, mister, 

And I love your wife, 

But if you don't feed me soon, 

There will be some strife. 

----------------------------------

Come on mister, what's the prob? 

Bits of old banana?

Next door gave me bacon, 

On a colourful bandana.

-----------------------------------

OK, stuff your nana, mate,

It's not what I eat,

I'll just check what's on the menu,

Further down the street.


...................<<..................>>...................

When not researching the weird or the wonderful, the comical or the cultured, the sinful or the serious, I chase my creative side, the results of which can be seen as selected photographs of my travels on my website at:

http://ken-boddie.squarespace.com

The author of the above, Ken Boddie, besides being a sometime poet and occasional writer, is an enthusiastic photographer, rarely leisure-travelling without his Canon, and loves to interact with other like-minded people with diverse interests.

Ken's three day work week (part time commitment) as a consulting engineer allows him to follow his photography interests, and to plan trips to an ever increasing list of countries and places of scenic beauty and cultural diversity.


Comments

Ken Boddie

5 years ago #18

Lots of magpies in our new suburb, Aleta, but they don’t say diddly squawk. 🤣

Ken Boddie

7 years ago #17

#19
Perhaps, Tony, you could get your niece to photograph or video Buddy on her phone then send the video to her friends or bring it into class for 'show and tell'? That way there may be a chance that peer pressure will make her realise how unique this interaction is with the cardinal. Just a thought. 🤔

Ken Boddie

7 years ago #16

#18
Poops won't eat any fruit at all, which is strange for a cockatiel. Maggie on the other hand eats all sorts of strange things (except banana) but I haven't tried her on tofu. As for durian, I don't want my dustbin left on the street untouched on collection day, so won't entertain the thought of having any in the house. Now about this Scrooge label, Mr Owen. Don't you know that Scots Kiwi Aussies are big spenders. Just ask the moths that inhabit my wallet, Oy vey?

Ken Boddie

7 years ago #15

#17
She's a fussy little so and so, Aurorasa. Reminds me of my wife shopping for shoes. But she'll be back when the menu's more to her taste. Takes things right out of my fingers, also, so I always count them, before and after. 🖐

Dean Owen

7 years ago #14

#13
Hey Poops, don't let Ebenezer Ken get to you. Word has it he has a pantry full of yummy Durian fruit. If not, you and Maggie are welcome to migrate North to China (avoid North Korean airspace). I'll have a pantry full of stinky tofu waiting for y'all!

Ken Boddie

7 years ago #13

#12
Maggie wants to know, Shubhanshu, whether you're referring to her poetry skills or her "pristine, well kept, feathers, gorgeous eyes and amazingly high IQ" - all her words, not mine. She also asked me to enquire what's on the menu at your house.

Ken Boddie

7 years ago #12

#11
Unfortunately, Lisa, many people are oblivious to the damage that cats do to wild life when they are left to roam free outdoors at night. We have lost a lot of our smaller species here in Oz, either due to uncontrolled cats and dogs in suburbia, or feral cats and dogs in the bush. Many of these feral animals started life as pets and then escaped after abuse or neglect.

Ken Boddie

7 years ago #11

#10
#9 Hi, Dean-san, its Poops the Cocky here, as Ken is in a huff and gone off line. Thanks for liking my poems, and Maggie Magpie sends her thanks also. Maggie wants to know what you have to eat at your place.

Lisa Gallagher

7 years ago #10

She's beautiful and loved the poem Ken Boddie! I had no idea they recognize facial features. I wonder if crows do to? My cousins had a crow that spent every spring, summer and fall around the pool with them and yes, even on their shoulder. I don't think she liked me, she used to swoop over my head like, watch out there girl.. I might peck you! Actually, I was sort of afraid of her when I was young. We had a dove on our deck today. I wondered why she didn't fly away when I opened the door, and slowly walked in front of me. I saw her neck and wing, I think a cat got to her. That made me sad!

Lisa Gallagher

7 years ago #9

#9
ouch LOL OwenDean Owen

Dean Owen

7 years ago #8

#8
sorry to say but both the Cockatoo and the Magpie have way more talent at prose than you Ken-san! 🕊💨

Ken Boddie

7 years ago #7

#6
Judging by your praise, Dean-san, and your previous comments, can I assume you think her poetry is way better than mine?

Ken Boddie

7 years ago #6

#5
I'll pass on your details to my flighty feathered friend, DL, although I suspect it may be too far for her to go to peck at some pelau. If she does show us, then please don't give her any banana. 🙁

Dean Owen

7 years ago #5

I just read that Magpies being part of the crow family, are one of the most intelligent species on Earth, so hardly surprising your visitor speaks so poetically! What a charmer....

Ken Boddie

7 years ago #4

#3
no magpies in Canada you say, Kev? Perhaps the Canada geese chased them all away for infringing upon their black and white feather patent? Or is it just an allergy to maple leaves and cold winter weather? 😀

Kevin Pashuk

7 years ago #3

It's the rare flying mooch. We don't have any of those prose worthy birds in our neighbourhood.

Ken Boddie

7 years ago #2

#1
I can't interest you in some banana, can I, Randy. It's only been sitting around for a couple of days. 🍌

Randy Keho

7 years ago #1

Made a great start to a Friday. Thanks for the chuckle.

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