THE COMMON STARLING
The common
starling's not the darling
Of humans in this
land
But why decried
and vilified
I do not
understand.
Is it their
success and life prowess
Producing swirling
flocks
Most common bird
seen or heard
'Round Eastern
farming blocks.
A pleasant call,
not harsh at all
Iridescent
breeding plume
Their beauty's
there for all to share
Not admired, I
presume.
They fill a niche
increasing rich
Spawned by crops
and farms
But also feast on
bugs and beast
Protecting crops
from harm.
Do they enjoy or
just destroy
A farmers right to
earn
Reducing grain and
thus the gain
To a point of no
return?
Perhaps the
hatred's more predated
Bequeathed by
English vile
Colonial error a
foreign terror
Enough to churn
our bile.
We in the East
must try at least
To accept their
subtle charm
Whereas the West
must do its best
To keep starlings
off the farm.
Geoff Ryan
2016
