J.M.J.

+

Hello, my Friend!  Hello today!

I hope you are in a good way!

No matter rain, no matter shine,

I always hope your day is fine!

The birds are busy every day!

I love to watch them work and play!

We talked last time of things birds do…

Some different things than me and you!

But birds are birds and that is why

That some fly high up in the sky…

But still that is not true for all,

As some stay low…big birds and small!

And also some birds fly away…

Not be too close, or near, to stay!

But some are not, as we did say,

Greatly afraid in a big way.

And just like Grampa could be friends,

With certain birds before day ends,

I, too, hope to make some bird Friends,

On any day, before day ends!

I think if I try to be still,

Then maybe certain birds…they will

Not fly and hide when they see me,

But stay around a while…maybe!

The little yellow birds will sit

On the fence made of wood that’s split…

The water birds will swim not far,

Not minding much the folks that are

Near where they swim, and quite close by…

They prob’ly think they just can fly!

So, peacefully, they swim around,

And sometimes one just might be found

preening away…with not a sound!

With not a thought that they are “found!”

     

They let me watch them when they eat,

As long as I don’t spoil their treat

Of lovely birdseed left outside,

So they can feed…and I don’t hide!

           

I watch them as they peck, peck, peck!

Sometimes, one just might turn its neck

To see around…make sure who’s there…

They keep their eyes on everywhere!

     

Sometimes a hidin’ bird I see;

I’ll see bird hidin’ in a tree!

But other times, the bird’s okay

Lookin’ around like any day!

Then there are birds that you’ll just “see,”

Are not worried ’bout where they “be!”

     

Sometimes alone, sometimes a crowd,

Sometimes just quiet…sometimes loud!

     

     

Some, with a horse, make a grand friend,

      

Some special friendships just don’t end!

   

Then there are birds who do just know

Where they do want their perch to show!

     

     

I, Finney, love the birds, you see…

And when you see a bird Fam’ly,

You hope that they won’t run away,

But sometimes that just is the way…

My Friends, the Turkey Family,

With whom I play and talk freely,

Did not feel safe the other day,

So, they just ran to hide away!

     

But now here is the Duck Fam’ly!

Who swim so proud for all to see!

They’re my Friends, too, and they know me,

And that I’d not hurt their Fam’ly!

There they are swimmin’ in a row….

With little ones keepin’ in tow…

     

     

Isn’t it grand and great to see,

These birds that are such Friends to me!

It’s such a comfort, just to know,

They are around to always show,

The ways that they are not afraid

To be the way that God has made

All birds and creatures of the Earth,

This grand great land of all our birth

I am so glad we talked today,

God bless you is what I do say!

Note from Nannie!

     Dr. Joyce in “A Smaller History of Social Ireland” (1906) reminds us of the intense love of nature and natural beauty that is second nature to the Irish.  He tells us of the charm of the singing of birds.  He shares this story, “It would be hard to find a more striking or a prettier conception of the power of music in the shape of a bird-song, than the account of Blanid’s three cows with their three little birds which used to sing to them during milking.  These cows were always milked into a caldron, but submitted reluctantly and gave little milk till the birds came to their usual perch – on the cows’ ears – and sang for them:  Then they gave their milk freely till the caldron was filled.”

If you go to the footnote link, you will find a question about this story, for younger readers.

God bless you, and thank you for stopping by to see Finney and me!