If just once those birds
That scatter snow from the tall tree –
Its branches shaken from white to green
By whirled circles on the wing –
Would cross to us and feed
If just once those birds
Would cease from flailing
And flashing their colours
To the phosphorescent sky
And be still
If just once those birds,
As the yellow lamps
Light to stain the day,
Would linger and tread
Our path
If once those birds
Would trust
Our nails and wood
And feeding cage
If those birds
Suffered the troubles
We went to
If those birds
Saw humans
In snow
MW Bewick 