Nest (Notevember 2022, #9)

Little blackburr in the nest
Follow Mother, she knows best

Little blackburr underfoot
Eyes of night and skin of soot

Little blackburr on a trip
Snarl and sneak and spring and skip

Little blackburr in a rush
Scares the birds out of the brush

Blackburr’s mother gives a start
Heart gives out, oh precious heart!

Little blackburr now at large
With no mother to take charge

Little blackburr, empty mouth
All the others travelled south

Little blackburr, cold and raw
Begging for the springtime thaw

Little blackburr in the ice –
   The storyteller never lies
   Here’s the tale I cannot tell:
   “Blackburr’s story ended well”