Lillian cups a tiny bird’s nest in today’s session in a Hereford Care Home.  She isn’t able to speak much, but she was utterly delighted.  It was marvellous to be able to bring such pleasure.

What bird lived here? 
So sweet. Soft.  
Keeps warm, I expect.

I don’t think we could do that.
They’re so clever. They just do it
with their beaks.

true     true    true
off they’ll fly
look there, look there

I also brought in a little RSPB blackbird, complete with song.  He sang to everyone in the room, and prompted some marvellous language, which I transcribed on the spot and later worked into poems, adding no words of my own.  Here is Paula’s poem.

Blackbird’s Eye

 Oh I’ve got him, I’ve got him.
He says, you’re nosy, just mind
your own business.
He has a pearly eye.
He sees everything.
He misses nothing.

I look in his eye.
I look in his eye.
Tweet, tweet, tweet.

He lifts in the air.
He rises to a height.
He flies away.

He didn’t tell you
what he said.
He’s coming back
another day.