The Robin and the Wren.

It isn’t unknown in mythology for humans to be reborn as birds. And it used to be believed in Britain that the robin and the wren were male and female of the same species. I have a number of both in my garden, and the following jumped into my head. I’m no poet, of course. This is just a slightly longer ditty than usual. Whether it is any more significant I’ll leave others to decide.

Will he wait upon the mountain

Where the dark clouds doom the day?

Will he wait upon the mountain

Where the ragged winds do play?

Will he wait upon the mountain

For a bird to fly his way?

And will he know the little wren

When she comes flying swift?

And will he know the little wren

Come rising up the rift?

And will he know the little wren

As long-determined gift?

Or will the red daub’d robin

Lose his recall of the vow?

Or will the red daub’d robin

Know his history as now?

And will the red daub’d robin

Greet his lady with a bow?