a spring smoke ring

it is still cold here
surprising when the spring progression
so often throws up glorious days
of promising sun and glowing warmth

the evidence is presented by a wattlebird
ugly grey-speckled harridan of the garden
red-cheeked raucous and discordant squawker
of alleged birdsong
raising its head from among the leaves of a flowering gum
to startle with its booming call
and blow a misty smoke ring
into the sky

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© Frank Prem, 2001