Black Cockatoos – A Poem

For almost thirty years our family lived in Warrandyte where, at a certain time each year, Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoos, swept magestically over our roof and landed in our Hakeas.

In June 2005 I wrote the poem below, which was published in the wonderful Warrandyte Diary – I’m happy to say, still thriving today. The Diary, as it is affectionately known, will be celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary later this year!

I would like to thank Jock Macneish for his wonderful illustration which accompanied my poem. Thank you Jock and The Warrandyte Diary.

Black Cockatoos

While we sleep

on a still, silent morn

black wings steal like shadows

into the mist.

Their cry is like no other –

haunting,

yearning,

searching

for a morning banquet.

They cry out once more

louder, knowing –

this time announcing they’ve found what they were seeking

and they gather like gossipy women

feasting on delicate food and camaraderie.

The bows hang heavy under their weight

as they drape themselves like heavy cloaks

over the hakeas and pine.

Their presence is like that of

black angels

and there is not a sign of

other morning birds.

Then something disturbs them.

They lift

from the trees

and almost touching the roof tops

swing northward and disappear into

the ethereal mist.

Tags: , , , , ,

← Back to all Blog posts

Add a comment