Departures

Patiently waiting on telephone wires,
they will depart these wintry shires.
No need to be told by word of mouth
that most of them will be going south.
It is something that we intuitively learn
by observing the flight of the Arctic Tern
or watching a flock of Barnacle Geese
migrating in unison with apparent ease.
Some of the birds will travel a long distance,
like the osprey, or fish-hawk,  for instance.
Miles upon miles without taking a rest
takes its toll and the birds are distressed.
A layman like me might be tempted to ask
why they undertake such a perilous task.
Feeding and breeding is their motivation
and that is why they embark on migration.
They instinctively know what suits them best;
whether to settle or return to their nest.

© Luigi Pagano