Acknowledgement

 Dear Reader,

 

The magpie was a very common bird in the countryside until the nineteenths century, but it was from then that the persecution by gamekeepers started and continued.

The magpie was originally know as 'pie' derived from the latin pica and French pie referring to the bird's black and white (pied) plumage.  The prefix 'mag' likely came about because the bird's call was considered to sound like the idle chattering of a woman.

In Western Cultures magpies can symbolize bad omens, ill tidings and witchcrafts but in Eastern cultures magpies can symbolize good fortune, good tidings and happiness.

Magpies are known for their intelligence, often hidings objects and remembering where to find them.  They have shown the ability to make and use tools, imitate human speech, grieve, play games and work in teams.
                       

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The poem I have published today is the first poem I ever wrote.  My granddaughter Emma was staying with me when we went out for a walk.  I had been divorced for several years and was very surprised at the question she asked me.

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From Dorothy Wordsworth    March 20th 1798  in Somerset

'A very cold evening, but clear.  the spring seemingly very little advanced.  No green trees, only the hedges are budding, and looking very lovely.'

From Francis Kilvert   March 19th  1871 in Radnorshire

'The sun was almost overpowering.   Heavy black clouds drove up and rolled round the sky without veiling the hot sunshine, black clouds with white edges they were, looking suspiciously like thunder clouds.  Against these black clouds the sunshine showed the faint delicate green and pink of the trees thickening with bursting buds.'

 

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Acknowledgement

 

 

 

We walked along the woodland path

my grandchild and I

noting nature things,

pointing out early primroses, aconites, wild violets.

 

We crossed the stream, and headed up the hill,

“Look a rabbit”, my grandchild said.

Together we saw one magpie, then two.

We shared a chocolate bar, drank from the stream

cupping our hands.

 

Kneeling in the rich earth I said,

“we are part of this

you and I, dear granddaughter,

part of this earth is us”.

 

She nodded.

 

“Do you know Grandpa, Granny?” she said.

“He said nature is part of us, or ought to be”.

She chattered on and

God forgive me, I didn’t hear.

 

Do I know Grandpa?   Yes.  A bit.

We lived together for twenty years,

I do know of his love for wild things,

for nature, and of his quick eye,

and how he loved me once

and how I loved him.

 

Yes, dear granddaughter,

I do know Grandpa.

 

 

 

With very best wishes, Patricia                                                                                   *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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