Musical magpie discourse  
     backing track for wild heart’s ease 
Now with threat see maggie swoop 
     terrible, rabid defence 
Bloody hell! With boundaries agreed 
     reigning in peace – so could we? 

Written in the Korean sijo form, westernised for English, about an Australian experience

Magpies are a highly intelligent species, with complex social structures, and an indescribably beautiful voice. Our wild magpies often make friends with humans, and initiate complex communication rituals with people they see as friends. Come Spring however, their relentlessly aggressive defence of their nesting territories, strikes terror into every Aussie heart, man or child. They won’t attack if you are Friend.