A Mischief of Magpies

I had a slight slump last week with concerns to my writing but it is true if you look for it, you can find inspiration anywhere.

My inspiration came from a flock of thirteen magpies all flying and running around the roofs by my block of flats. I have to admit, despite their bad rap, I have fondness for magpies. They are extremely clever but they seem to enjoy employing that cleverness into winding up any other species they can, including my parents’ pet dogs.

I’m also fond of finding out the names for groups of animals and was rather amused to come across that one of the group names for magpies is a ‘mischief’, so fitting I thought (source: here).

A Mischief of Magpies

Dressed to impress
In black waistcoats and tails
With bright white chests
And flashy teal details.

Amongst branches they dance
Loudly chitter-chattering
And along rooftops they prance,
Talons on tiles clattering.

They find great entertainment
In hounding and hectoring.
Sending others into derangement
With their persistent pestering.

The answer to their motives,
Is told in the glint of their eyes,
And the name of their collective:
A mischief of magpies.