Monday Morning In Benalla

Monday morning in Benalla just an hour after daybreak Listening to the Aussie magpie his voice one cannot mistake In the park by Broken River on a tree with lake nearby Piping in the morning sunshine magpie's song a thing of joy. Then I hear a blackbird singing takes me back to Erin's shore My heart has returned to Ireland back to the leafy grove once more Descendant of Europe's blackbird black feathers and golden bill And same type of bird as sweet voiced songsters in the wood by Clara hill. And the little plain house sparrows chirping in the freshening breeze Every time I hear and see them it stir up the old memories Of when I was a young boy years ago and far away Sparrows on the barn rafters in the Spring built nests of hay. And the shy and common rabbits in the parklands often seen Their ancestors introduced from Britain where the fields are evergreen Quite at home here in Australia home of the marsupial kind And rabbits they will even fatten on grass dried from sun and wind. And the Indian mynas calling mynas like to have their say Their ancestors introduced from India from New Delhi and Bombay Mynas are urban dwellers from the outback they keep away And like blackbird and like sparrow in the town they'd rather stay. Galahs and sulphur crested cockatoos squawking loudly whilst in flight Galahs pink and grey with white caps and sulphur crested cockies pigeon sized and white It's a strange Land for a stranger a strange sight for migrant eyes Foreign breeds and native Aussies mixed together make strange noise. And Australia's best known member of the kingfisher family Kookaburra laughing loudly on low branch of old gum tree He laugh loud and he laugh hearty and on a calm and windless day One might hear a kookaburra laughing half a mile away. Monday morning in Benalla up North East Victoria way Sun rising with face flushed rosy promises a warm day Cockies squawking, songbirds piping, rabbits nibbling grass turned brown From the sun in park Benalla in Benalla's country Town.