This lovely family incident occurred several years running, as long as our neighbours fed the stray cat.

FATHERS

“Here you are, son. Eat your fill!”
Says the blackbird to his chick,
And our dad, at the windowsill,
Whispers: “You lot! Come and watch! Quick!”

The big chick stands with gaping beak
Trying his best to look helpless;
Doesn’t care that his father’s been coming all week,
Raggeder each day, unselfish.

Blackbird stoops and prods and mimes,
Pecks the food, then drops it.
Chick does nothing. Three more times.
Then cat walks by, and stops it.

Successful retreat to the sycamore tree,
Where other chicks sit waiting.
Cat grows tired; wanders off, to see
Are there any other sites worth baiting?

When cat’s asleep, we watch again.
The lesson is soon restarted.
Still the cock blackbird, - Where’s the hen?
And the chick, playing thick, to be partied.

Family, crowding the windowsill,
And blackbird share one wish:
When will the chick learn to fill his bill
Himself, at the cat-food dish?