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Magpies

Edward S. Sorenson

Now friendly and queenly.
    On fence-rail or log,
Or fossicking keenly,
The magpie serenely
    Greets man or his dog.

She’s cheery, loquacious,
    And charms with her song;
But jealous, audacious,
Alert and pugnacious
    Should cares come along.

When Maggie is nesting,
    She soon makes it clear
She’ll stand no molesting,
Whatever your questing,
    You mustn’t go near;

As each one discovers
    Who thereabout treads,
How she startles the lovers
With swoops like the plovers,
    And snaps at their heads!

The dog that encroaches
    Awakes with a start
To learn that he poaches;
And the colt that approaches
    Goes off with the cart.

Till her duties are over,
    Her family flown,
She’s a truculent rover
O’er Woodland and clover
    She claims as her own.

Then gladsomely ringing
    Her carols are heard;
She stays in her winging
To greet you with singing,
    A peaceable bird.

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