Wrens in Lockdown by Ian Lee-Dolphin

Arts Richmond

Online - 16 July 2020

Wrens in Lockdown

Each morning, the usual suspects arrive,
Blue tits and goldfinches
hanging precariously from the seed-laden tree
On the ground, the robin and blackbird
peck, peck, pecking

The wrens dart in, almost unnoticed
So small , peck, peck, pecking
Filling their beaks, then flying
over the shed and fence
I cannot see where they go.
Minutes later, returning
peck, peck, pecking.

Small, fully focused,
Still they come,
despite buffeting winds
Oblivious of the gargantuan robin and blackbird
peck, peck, pecking.

In this pandemic
pause for dramatic effect …
We are like the wrens
Darting around the supermarket
pick, pick, picking
Then rushing back to our nests.

by Ian Lee-Dolphin

Ian Lee-Dolphin is a songwriter, poet, singer, guitarist and founder member of the bands Take Five, Zenith and French Lessons. Ian has been writing songs and poems since 1968 and played one of his first gigs at the Marquee in Wardour Street, London in 1970.

Poem for the day Wrens in Lockdown