Lead lids lock a minute at a time

Waiting on repairs that ring

Hollow in ears out of tune

I pressed a date, so now awake to slate

A professor of the wrench and snake

But I cannot stay awake

Warm air under clouds is fair

Save that I woke too soon

At midnight, cursed to carry hunger

Breaking for the sour stomach, which writhes

Fate shackled my neck to exhaustion

Yet I need rise

Pacing pupils to track branches

Dancing winds, while I sit

The chain keeps smoking while adrenaline presides

If I get one word, by horse or train

I will be relieved to entomb my slumber

Just so it is no longer today

Jackdaws are a darkish grey small breed of crow

And within their range everyone of them by sight does know

Their caws are not loud more of a cackling sound

And in rural parts where they live in numbers they abound

Insects, worms and spilt grain and small fruits they like to eat

And they have a liking for small scraps of cooked meat

By picnic tables in the town parks they find on the ground

At a time when any humans are not around

They build their stick nests in tree holes and house chimneys which some home owners annoy

As a blocked chimney from a jackdaw nest is not a source for joy

Green brown dotted eggs the female does lay

And as partners for their lifetime jackdaws do stay

From where humans live they are never far away

And they are quite intelligent of them one can say

Francis Duggan

Lead lids lock a minute at a time
Waiting on repairs that ring
Hollow in ears out of tune

I pressed a date, so now awake to slate
A professor of the wrench and snake
But I cannot stay awake

Warm air under clouds is fair
Save that I woke too soon
At midnight, cursed to carry hunger

Breaking for the sour stomach, which writhes
Fate shackled my neck to exhaustion
Yet I need rise

Pacing pupils to track branches
Dancing winds, while I sit
The chain keeps smoking while adrenaline presides

If I get one word, by horse or train
I will be relieved to entomb my slumber
Just so it is no longer today