The Flame trees next door
a bright vision with flowers of
red turned-up petals clustered
around domed black centres,
adorning almost leaf-bare branches.

Mottled yellow and green
leaves stubbornly clinging to
life before falling away,
give camouflage to the
busy screeching Rozellas in
nature’s open aviary.

The birds positions revealed
by the bounce of light branches
as they feed on something delectable
of the flowers, for which they
return each year.

With bright blue bobbing heads,
flashes of rust-red blending to golden-
yellow breasts, they nibble at
the food in awkward balancing
postures.

Closed claws cling to thin holds
as occasional fanned green wings
reveal hidden yellow feathers.
Their green backs when exposed
make them almost invisible in the
trees, but their noisy chatter
declares their presence.

Suddenly the flowers are no longer,
as Summer brings the clothing
of green leaves, the trees quieten
of chattering parrots until next
season, when their beautiful rainbow
colours again mingle with the
glorious hue of Flame tree blossoms.


8/2000

11/01/2001

Posted on 11/01/2001
Copyright © 2024 Audrey M Scott