Magpie Mile

When loneliness was a curse, I would mumble out that verse,
As I tumbled through the hollow. A single magpie did follow.
One for sorrow, two for joy.

Briskly I walked down frisky shelves of wooden sentinel,
Heavy green leaves sheathe the clearing where we’ll meet.
Three for a girl, four for a boy.

Our desires were not met in the fires of Autumn foliage,
Nor did icicle-licked trees offer true shelter to me.
Five for silver, six for gold.

Seven for the secret never to be told.
I here stress the confession, of my magpie meandering.
Monochrome menace flying abreast, my perpetual pest,
He dogged my every step as I lingered in the depths,
Of this orchard lonely. Haunted here, and homely.
I did not glitter, the fruit was so bitter in my corpse copse.

Wherever I walked, I was stalked by that solitary magpie.
His sorrow matched my own and we would roam through
Gathering glade and seeming shade

Did you know about the dark? I did not love a single lark
That flew to my nest before you. At no behest or request
Did I grant my crowing favour. I savour now your light as it
Beats through the green. How stunted I have been!

Sun adopted me again when I happened upon the glen,
Where fate had made you wait in the dappling, dazzling glow.
Up on the canopy, our accidental alchemy was echoed,
By the magpie, in smart black tie with a new dance partner.
They tangoed through the trees as you waltzed here with me.

Two for joy, two for joy.
Nest in my heart, my life’s mate and we will generate,
Our own paths and pleasures. Here us laugh as we go,
With our black and white shadow.
We are spinning, we are spinning, we two.
Two for joy, two for joy.