Little Red Bird

MONDAY MORNING PHOTO PROMPT
http://bifocalunivision.blogspot.com.au
supplied the photo at just the right time for this worried blogger!

LITTLE RED BIRD 
(After Patience Strong)

A little red bird sits in my heart
And bravely it sings when my worries start.
Though dark the clouds or cold the rain
It warbles its song with might and main.
At times the warble is rather frail,
But it gives a wag of its little tail.
It perches there on a perilous wire
And as the clouds loom, darker, higher,
It becomes braver, more intense
Singing 'Worries! Get thee hence!'
I fear for it in the dead of night
When the worries are full of dread and spite,
And I sometimes wonder if it's still there,
Throwing its song at the threatening air.
But to a thread of hope it clings
And, buffeted by the wind, it sings.
A little red bird sits in my heart

And bravely it sings when my worries start.
*
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HANDMAIDENS

Oh Moon! Thou shinest round and bright

Central to the velvet night.

And we, thy handmaidens, draw nigh,

Worshipping thee, Queen of the sky.

We are poor things that feebly glow,

Standing on stalks, transfixed, below!

Thy silver orb is oh so great,

We cannot hope to emulate

Thy fearsome whiteness shining down

On this, our shabby little town.

We turn our faces up to you

Trying to learn what we should do.

But we are in the power of men,

Switched on and then switched off again!

Oh Moon! Oh goddess! Cast thine eye

Upon thy handmaidens who.........try!

*