Thornbills

JUDITH WRIGHT
Music – Paul Kelly and James Ledger (Sony/ATV)

Their tiny torrent of flight
sounds in the trees like rain
flicking the leaves to the light—
a scattered handful of grain,
the thornbills little as bees.

I hear in the blowing trees
the sudden tune of their song.
Pray that the hawk not sees,
who has scanned the wind so long
for his small living food.

Oh let no enemies
drink the quick wine of blood
that leaps in their pulse of praise.
Wherever a trap is set
may they slip through the mesh of the net.
Nothing should do them wrong.