Red Kite

A friendship unplanned

I didn’t understand 

I would grieve

The squirrels dancing

To your call.

I didn’t realise

Your steady presence

In the skies

Carried me

You introduced me

To the reds

The blues

The yellows

And browns 

Always visiting 

Whistling 

Always giving

More than they took

My nuthatch 

Stopping time

My woodpecker 

Bringing joy

My robin

Teaching patience

Now crows loom

Magpies taunt

Seagulls tease

I try to make friends 

With these

The black

The white

And grey

Aloof and suspicious 

Their mocking song

Teaching regret.

You visit

Not too often

Circling overhead

Out of reach

You remind me

My friend

Of your world

The one I left.