On the gum trees at Birds Paddock crested cockies squawk and call <br />And the magpies flute their sweetest notes as shades of darkness fall <br />And the kookaburras laughing, laughing all of their cares away <br />At Birds Paddock in Tecoma in the gloaming of the day. <br /> <br />To the reed beds for night shelter coot and eastern swamphen fly <br />And the wild duck back from feeding grounds are circling in the sky <br />Before coming in for landing on the waters of Birds lake <br />To rest and sleep and dream their dreams till first ray of daybreak. <br /> <br />O'er Birds Paddock in Tecoma night has spread it's darkened cloak <br />And the day creatures now resting and night creatures wide awoke <br />In the reed beds at the lake shore the shy and timid frogs croak <br />And I hear familiar call sound of nocturnal bird mopoke. <br /> <br />O'er Birds Paddock in Tecoma countless stars are twinkling bright <br />And I'll leave this wild life sanctuary to the shy birds of the night, <br />To the barn owls and the frogmouths and the mopokes and nightgars <br />To hunt in Tecoma gum woods in the faint light of the stars.<br /><br />Francis Duggan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/written-after-a-visit-to-birds-paddock/
