Eastern Rosellas

Amongst Australia's fairest parrots in red and white and green and gold The eastern rosellas so lovely to behold And though not classified as plentiful or not seen every where They are not an endangered species and not known to be rare. An eastern rosella perched on a sunlit tree As beautiful a parrot as one might wish to see I see them fairly regularly though not every day And if I walk close to them they always fly away. Were I quite a good writer and had I a way with words I somehow might do justice to these beautiful birds Of humans they seem wary and they do seem rather shy But I envy them their beauty their freedom of the sky. I know Mick this local fellow he keeps two in a cage He found them starving in their nest at their late fledgeling stage He said their parents must have fallen victims to a cat or bird of prey And they'd die of hunger if I released them now so with me they must stay. Their chirpings unmistakeable as they fly from tree to tree The eastern rosellas so beautiful and free They lay pale grey eggs in hollow log in mid Winter through Spring And the artists paint their beauty and the poets about them sing.