LONE BIRDS

He sees them and vice versa Them, him Marauding birds all risky business Flying low, almost breasting Swollen with rain Bear up like a gentleman and pick one The single man must get a doll Any lone bird will do There’s no law against it But whatever you do Avoid the cockatoos To come to this is to come to a foreign land What you want are little hints of birdsong fresh and uncompromised ‘Hello’ ‘My apologies’ ‘I’d love to’ ‘Of course’ If you hear squawking know This is no love nest

Written using a collage of words by Elizabeth Jolley and a 1950s guide on how to keep a wife.