Lines On Seeing A Goldfinch

As I walked up a well worn path By railroad track in Ballarat Up from a clump of bleached grass flew A bird at first glance that I knew. His roots hark back to European Where wind blow cold and grass grow green A long way from Australia's shore Perhaps twelve thousand miles or more. Straight on my pathway he did fly And perched on timber post nearby Perhaps a cock of two years old With red band above beak and wings of gold. Perched on a wooden post in bright sunlight He looked a very pretty sight He stand in height just over an inch But his is prettiest breed of finch. In the hot sunlight of mid day From timber post he flew away My heart was pulsating with joy And my thoughts returned to days gone by When oft times in Ireland in the Spring I listened to his kin bird sing I'd listen to them all day long These little wildborn birds of song. In Ballarat in January Oh what a pleasant memory To see again the fair hued bird And beautiful for him the word. Lit by Australia's bright sunshine A young cock goldfinch in his prime A memory of Europe here A thing of joy a thing to cheer.