On Hearing A Magpie

On a sunlit gum tree to where i am near
The warbling of a magpie so pleasant to hear
The variable notes quite melodious and clear
Of this bird who does sing every day of the year

For their natural aggression magpies are well known
These familiar black and white Australians have ways of their own
With dagger like point on their thick silver bill
Small birds i have seen them to attack and kill

When in warring mood for them there is no holding back
At their nesting time humans they even attack
With vigorous aggression they defend territory
To them to attack seems to come naturally

In Australia their kind present in almost every race
And their beautiful songs surely their saving grace
In their breeding Season from late Winter through Spring they sing in the night
In the nocturnal stillness a thing of delight

Familiar birds every day one does hear and see
They build a nest of sticks, wire and plastic on high branch of tree
On this pleasant day in April in Autumn with the sun in the sky
I do hear one warbling on a tree nearby.