On The Virtues Of Birds

• Jack Davenport, Grade 5
• Poetry
• 2018

Majestic, like an eagle standing proud on a cliff
A hawk swooping in for the kill
Claws extended to grab its prey.

Timid, like a pigeon pecking at bread scraps on the footpath
A sparrow flitting from branch to branch
As if carried by the laughter of children.

Intelligent, like the raven unzipping your school bag
Carrying the contents off with a crafty look in its eye
Almost seeming to taunt.

Beautiful, like a rainbow lorikeet soaring over the canopy of a rainforest
A swan gliding across the water
Leaving only ripples in its wake.