September 5: There's a gum tree out in our front yard ...

There’s a gum tree out in our front yard that’s bursting into flower

As the Cocky’s pick it twig from twig, hour after hour

The ground below is littered, with remnants of our tree

Those large white birds with yellow crests, they are a sight to see

They sit there safe in numbers, camouflaged from sight

The yellow peaks meld with the flowers, their feathers crispy white

Squawking, talking, as they pick, what is their conversation

As they denude my favourite tree, to my increasing agitation

There’s no point calling out to them, they know they’re safe up high

And even if they do depart, back to the tree they’ll fly

Continuing their pruning, as the strip the gum of flowers

And I sit out on my balcony, watching, hour after hour