It’s April
       and the trees are in leaf
and the chaffinches
       are feeling broody

In the woodland
       they’re building
their distinctive nests
       I notice the coming and going
of the handsome male
       with his blue-grey cap
pink cheeks and breast
       and his reddish-brown mantle

Though wary of the female
       he is positively on fire
and they will soon mate
       There will be eggs
to incubate and
       mouths to feed
until the young fledge
       and so it goes

John Lyons