a clatter of wings
leaving the winter puddle
searching for the sky.

a small child playing,
kicking through the fallen leaves.
watch out for dog turds.

scooping, scurrying,
beak loaded full of larvae,
blackbird on the lawn.

a pair of magpies
in the naked spring branches,
chattering out joy.

heralding the spring,
blackbirds fluting from branches,
ripeness in their notes.