He

(He nears Ness, he moves through the marshes much as mud might)
(You couldn't call it walking, this march matches no known gait)
(He pours himself forwards, pours, sets, melts and pours again)
(In a looping flow, learnt part from otter and part from water)

He nears Ness, he moves through marshes
This march matches no one's gait
He pours himself forwards
Skipping looping flow learnt from otter

Willow weaves in him, weaves him in
Roots and leafs making and remaking
His bones with ceaseless invention
A throng of bird song in every direction

Wrens' notes sharp as needles sewing thread
Blackbirds chinking like pennies on glass
Kew-kew scold of buzzards, clack and skua
The godwit's call which is red and gold
And ever the jag and haggle of the gulls
And ever the jag and haggle of the gulls

So he pours himself onwards noisily
Through the woods, the marshes and along the beach
His birds are becoming excited
Their songs bright lines looping silver through the air

From within him, he can hear Oven-Bird
Hay-Jack Mavis and Coddy-Moddy
Magareen, Fulfer and the Rain-Bird
All singing the high notes, the oversong

From within him, he can hear Butcher Bird
Shriek-Devil, Howler and Shriek-Owl
Right in their darkness for what's going on
All singing the low notes, the undersong

Wrens' notes sharp as needles sewing thread
Blackbirds chinking like pennies on glass
Kew-kew scold of buzzards, clack and skua
The godwit's call which is red and gold
And ever the jag and haggle of the gulls

Wrens' notes sharp as needles sewing thread (and ever the jag and haggle of the gulls)
Blackbirds chinking like pennies on glass (and ever the jag and haggle of the gulls)
Kew-kew scold of buzzards, clack and skua (and ever the jag and haggle of the gulls)
The godwit's call which is red and gold (and ever the jag and haggle of the gulls)
And ever the jag and haggle of the gulls
And ever the jag and haggle of the gulls