So many Countries he's been through so many Lands he see <br />Since he left home a few months back up by the Northern sea <br />Through Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia's coastal south <br />And here on beach in Gippsland he feed when tide is out. <br /> <br />What mood possessed the turnstone to leave his northern home <br />To roam the World in search of food the only life he's known <br />Here on beach at Cape Paterson so far so far away <br />From Artic coast or further north where he first saw light of day. <br /> <br />For month or two or maybe three he may find peace of soul <br />Here in this remote southern land where blue Pacific roll <br />Till urge will tell him to go north a wanderer he fly <br />Around the world in search of food until the day he die. <br /> <br />The World map in his tiny brain his instincts tell him he <br />Should fly the coast and travel north to reach the Artic sea <br />Two months of travel at the least on rare occasions more <br />Before he reach his breeding grounds up by the Artic shore. <br /> <br />Compared to man his life is brief and brief will be his span <br />And he's seen more in a few years than the most travelled man <br />But who will celebrate his life and tell of where he's been <br />Of all the Countries he's passed through and beauty he has seen. <br /> <br />On the beach at Cape Paterson he feed when tide is out <br />He may stay here for a few weeks and then move further south <br />Till homing urge will come to him and northwards he will wing <br />To breeding grounds on Artic shore to greet the Northern Spring.<br /><br />Francis Duggan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/on-seeing-turnstone/
