Reply from the bird

Reply from the bird

Dear sir,

Thank you for your letter of the 31^st December 2019

We note your apprehension

With the state of the world,

And we believe you are entertaining mis-placed optimism.

We birds are a web of knowledge.

We communicate across continents and oceans.

We know when things are going badly.

The song of which you speak

Was no rejoicing,

No battle done.

The state of things is not a good one.

The world is up side down and your people are to blame.

We are sorry to dishearten,

But you must be told the truth.

A new year is not the end of things

But a beginning of more trouble.

Do not believe that things can’t get worse,

But for as long as we have breath We’ll sing where e’r we be.

In pretty Penge, or suburban drear.