The House Martins are gathering
for pre-flight instruction,
lining up and discussing
their youngster’s induction;
The last of the fledglings
are trained in flight patterns
and take offs and landings
and practising tight turns!

They squabble and chatter
all night and day long,
"We’ve got to get fatter,
soon it will be time to be gone."
They are planning their route
and departure morn,
all fledglings must be ready
to set off at dawn.

There is a long journey ahead
over sea and land,
with many a danger to dread
from gunfire, and netters who stand
waiting to trap the unwary bird,
attempting to rest their poor tired wings.
Over the Camargue, flying to low
down to earth, the trapper will bring.

The end of our summer time
is their signal to leave,
for a warmer and much sunnier clime.
Abandoning their nests under our eaves,
off to the African continent they fly.
The strong and the fit
will make it, bye and bye.
They are not the kind to give up or quit.

I will miss them while they are gone,
their constant chatter at night
and their aerial antics all day long,
they are always such a wonderful sight.
Now I know winter is not far away
so I will look forward once more
to next year, and that lovely May day
when their return heralds Spring, as before.

Jackie S Brooks © ©
©21 August 2003