'Twas Shane who gave the spotted dove to me <br />That he'd found by the Pittosporum tree <br />From upper branch she'd fallen to the ground <br />Though predator he had not seen around. <br /> <br />She seemed so frail I held her in my hand <br />She did not struggle could not even stand <br />I searched her over for an injury <br />Though only one small blemish I could see. <br /> <br />And that was the tiniest hole in her head <br />Though very very little she had bled <br />And that the only injury she had <br />'Methought' what ails her she doesn't look too bad? . <br /> <br />I wrapped her in jumper to keep her warm <br />And put her in basket in place safe from harm <br />On the verandah to recuperate <br />Though I felt fairly dubious of her fate. <br /> <br />I gave her honey mixed in water for to drink <br />And she shook her head and she began to blink <br />And quite suddenly she seemed to come alive <br />And she looked then like she might well survive. <br /> <br />And for her life she seemed prepared to fight <br />And she perched on basket verge to spend the night <br />But when I went to see her in the morning light <br />She did not look a very healthy sight. <br /> <br />She lay there dying on the verandah floor <br />And for her I knew I could do no more <br />Dark rain clouds gathered in the morning sky <br />And on verandah floor the dove did die. <br /> <br />At least of her suffering the bird was free <br />And I buried her by the pittosporum tree <br />A yellow robin carolled in the rain <br />And when the shower had passed the sun shone out again.<br /><br />Francis Duggan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/death-of-a-dove/
