I spoke to the magpie
As I strode past
“I’m walking” I said
It said “I can see that”
Unimpressed
And that’s the trouble with talking
Most of it is
Superfluous
And thinking is worse
But sometimes if you look around
And be quiet
The verse comes spiralling up
I saw a Billy Button wildflower gently expiring
Gold turning brown
I knelt down to ask how that felt
It was joyous
Surprisingly content
I asked “why?”
It said “well I’m turning to seed”
And me
As a recent grandmother made
Got it completely
“Oh Congratulations” I said
It nodded its little dry brown head
And I kept walking
