Butcher Bird in Drought Time
Three notes he sang,
three lonely limpid notes
to the arid sky;
green as hope they were,
clear as mountain air
and sweet as water falling.
Keep them as a sign
that he will sing again
in other springs
as green as hope,
as clear as mountain air
and sweet as water falling.
© Anne Bell
First published NSW Department of Education School magazine
Australian Children’s Poetry 
Delightful. Anne Bell is one of my favourite living poets.
A beautiful poem, Anne. I’ve always loved your work and this proves to me, yet again, that you are the best.
love your work Anne. Always have. Always will. Thank you.
This is a lovely poem – beautifully balanced in form and idea.
A beautifully written poem, expressed succinctly. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you all – both for reading and taking time to comment.Everlasting thanks to Di for
this blog – and for finding me so many friends of like mind.Big hugs.Anne and the dawg x