We received a great email recently. It included a poem written by Jack McEwan, age 9, following a visit to Minsmere with his grandparents. The peom was so good that I just had to shareit with you.

Minsmere RSPB reserve, Suffolk – Early morning in February

 

By Jack McEwan aged 9

  

A deer, a roe deer, the first I’ve ever seen, nestling in between the bushes,

 

A majestic, magical marsh harrier soaring and swooping down, catching prey,

 

A smew, a wigeon, a shoveler, or was it just a mallard?

 

Lazy cormorant stretching his wings,

 

Grandpa rustling through his bird book to see if it really was one,

 

 cries of fear and fright as Granny spots deer footprints on the muddy gravel,

 

Natures choir of birds calling and singing,

 

Tough old wood on the window hatch as I enter the different hides,

 

cold metal as I peer through my Binoculars,

 

smooth silver as I try to capture my memories,

 

Safe cage of happiness which is my mother’s hand ,

 

bitter sting of disappointment: no otters today,

 

Juicy hot beans and flaky sausage rolls as I walk towards canopy hide hoping to see all the beautiful creatures in Minsmere,

 

Pitter patter, pitter patter, rain on my cheek as we carry on

 

Wet but warm inside.

 (Editor's note - the deer would most likely have been a red deer as roe deer are extremely rare at Minsmere, but I didn't want to alter Jack's lovely words)

Poetry always inspires me, and nature is a great source of poetic language and thought. You may remember that the RSPB is running a Nature Poetry competition, with judges including former poet laureate Sir Nadrew Motin and top wildlife author Mark Cocker. Maybe Jack's poem will inspire you to enter this competition. If it does, the details are below.

As well as offering poets the chance to win a cash prize and publication of their poems, the competition will raise vital money for conservation. Full details and the facility to enter online can be found The Rialto website here: www.therialto.co.uk/pages/the-magazine/nature-poetry-competition-2012/ If you would prefer to enter by post, that’s fine too, just get in touch with Matt Howard at our Norwich office on 01603 697515 or email at  matt.howard@rspb.org.uk to request an entry form.

Thanks Jack - I hope you enjoy your next visit.

A smew (this is a female, or redhead), one of the species Jack saw. Photo by Jon Evans