Kingfisher

Kingfisher
The colour-giver,
Fire-bringer,
Flame-flicker,
River's quiver.

Ink-black bill,
Orange throat,
And a quick blue
Back-gleaming feather-stream.

Neat and still
It sits on the snag of a stick,
Until...
With gold-flare, wing-fan,
Whipcrack the kingfisher –
Zingfisher,
Singfisher!

Flashes down
Too fast to follow,
Quick and quicker
Carves its hollow
In the water,
Slings its arrow
Superswift to swallow
Stickleback
Or shrimp
Or minnow.

Halcyon, its other name –
Also ripple-calmer,
Water-nester,
Evening angler,
Weather-teller,
Rainbringer and
Rainbow bird –
That sets the stream alight
With burn and glitter!

Halcyon,
Sets the stream alight
Oh, Rainbow bird

Halcyon,
(Rainbringer, Weather-teller)
Sets the stream alight
Oh, Rainbow bird

Halcyon,
(Rainbringer, Weather-teller)
Sets the stream alight
Oh, Rainbow bird

Halcyon,
(Rainbringer, Weather-teller)
Sets the stream alight
Oh, Rainbow bird

Halcyon,
(Rainbringer, Weather-teller)
Sets the stream alight
Oh, Rainbow bird

Halcyon,
(Rainbringer, Weather-teller)
Sets the stream alight
Oh, Rainbow bird

Halcyon,
(Rainbringer, Weather-teller)
Sets the stream alight
Oh, Rainbow bird

Halcyon,
(Rainbringer, Weather-teller)
Sets the stream alight
Oh, Rainbow bird

Halcyon,
(Rainbringer, Weather-teller)
Sets the stream alight
Oh, Rainbow bird
END